Verneuil's disease, innate immunity and vitamin D: a pilot study. (16th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guillet, A.; Brocard, A.; Bach Ngohou, K.; Graveline, N.; Leloup, A.‐G.; Ali, D.; Nguyen, J.‐M.; Loirat, M.‐J.; Chevalier, C.; Khammari, A.; Dreno, B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Volume 29:Number 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1347
• Page End: 1353
• Publication Date: 2014-12-16
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12857
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0926-9959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jdv12857-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jdv12857-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Verneuil's disease is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the follicles in apocrine glands rich area of the skin (axillary, inguinal, anogenital) and is associated with a deficient skin innate immunity. It is characterized by the occurrence of nodules, abscesses, fistulas, scars. Recently, vitamin D has been shown to stimulate skin innate immunity.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12857-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>The primary objective of the study was to assess whether Verneuil's disease was associated with vitamin D deficiency. The secondary objective was to determine whether vitamin D supplementation could improve inflammatory lesions.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12857-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>First, 25(OH) vitamin D<sub>3</sub> serum levels in patients with Verneuil's disease followed at Nantes University Hospital were compared to those of healthy donors from the French Blood Bank. Then, a pilot study was conducted in 14 patients supplemented with vitamin D according to their vitamin D level at baseline at months 3 and 6. The endpoints at 6 months were decreased by at least 20% in the number of nodules and in the frequency of flare‐ups.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12857-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Twenty‐two patients (100%) had vitamin D deficiency (level <30 ng/mL) of whom 36% were severely deficient (level <10 ng/mL), having correlation with the disease severity (<italic>P</italic> = 0.03268) vs. 20 controls with vitamin D deficiency (91%) of whom 14% were severely deficient. In 14 patients, the supplementation significantly decreased the number of nodules at 6 months (<italic>P</italic> = 0.01133), and the endpoints were achieved in 79% of these patients. A correlation between the therapeutic success and the importance of the increase in vitamin D level after supplementation was observed (<italic>P</italic> = 0.01099).</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv12857-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Our study shows that Verneuil's disease is associated with a major vitamin D deficiency, correlated with the disease severity. It suggests that vitamin D could significantly improve the inflammatory nodules, probably by stimulating the skin innate immunity. A larger randomized study is needed to confirm these findings.</p> </sec> </abstract>