Semaglutide Improves Clinical and Metabolic Outcomes in Hidradenitis Suppurativa with Obesity: Study
Spain: A new study has found that treatment with Semaglutide in patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa and obesity led to improvements in weight, body composition, metabolic and inflammatory markers, as well as dermatologic and psychological status. Further, several benefits persisted even after adjusting for weight loss.
The findings are from a prospective cohort study published in Medicina Clínica by Joana Nicolau and colleagues from the Vascular and Metabolic Diseases Research Group at Son Llàtzer University Hospital and the Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Spain.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by recurrent painful nodules, abscesses, and scarring, often affecting areas such as the armpits and groin. The disease has a strong association with Obesity and metabolic disturbances, which can worsen inflammation and disease severity. In recent years, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists have garnered attention for their potential weight-reducing and anti-inflammatory effects. However, evidence regarding their role in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa has remained limited.
To explore this further, the researchers conducted a prospective open-label cohort study involving 20 adults diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa and obesity. Participants received treatment with Semaglutide at doses greater than 1 mg per week for six months. The investigators assessed a wide range of outcomes at baseline and at the end of the treatment period, including anthropometric measurements, dermatologic status, metabolic indicators, inflammatory markers, and psychological well-being.
Key Findings:
- After six months of treatment with Semaglutide, participants showed a substantial reduction in body weight, with an average loss of about 21.4 kg.
- Significant improvements were also observed in body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and levels of preperitoneal and subcutaneous fat.
- Disease severity of Hidradenitis suppurativa decreased in all participants, as reflected by improvements in the Hurley staging system.
- Patient-reported quality of life improved notably, with a marked reduction in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores.
- Pain intensity declined significantly during the study period, based on visual analogue scale (VAS) scores.
- Participants experienced a considerable reduction in depressive symptoms, indicated by improved scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
- Favorable changes were also seen in metabolic and inflammatory laboratory markers, suggesting broader health benefits beyond weight reduction.
- Even after adjusting for weight loss, several improvements remained statistically significant, including better dermatology-related quality of life, reduced pain, lower depressive symptoms, reduced disease severity, and improved levels of vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP), and cortisol.
The authors concluded that semaglutide therapy in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and obesity was associated with meaningful improvements across multiple clinical domains, including weight, metabolic health, inflammation, skin disease severity, and psychological status. Notably, several benefits appeared to extend beyond the effects of weight loss alone, suggesting a potential broader therapeutic role for the medication in this patient population.
Reference:
Nicolau, J., Sanchís, P., Nadal, A., Isabel Tamayo, M., Sfondrini, G., Grimalt, M., García, P., Nadal, C., & Masmiquel, L. (2026). Semaglutide in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and obesity. Medicina ClíNica, 166(5), 107405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medcli.2026.107405
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