Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Verneuil’s disease, also known as Hidradenitis suppurativa, is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by recurrent episodes. It’s manifested by painful deep inflammatory nodules, comedones, and scarring in areas rich in apocrine glands. Its prevalence is estimated at 1% of the population. It is influenced by factors such as obesity, smoking, and genetics. We report the case of a patient admitted for diabetes in whom Hidradenitis suppurativa was diagnosed.

Case report: It is about a 35-year-old patient, a smoker with a 35 pack-year history, and no significant medical history. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed due to the onset of cardinal signs over the past 5 months. Upon examination, the BMI was 38 kg/m²;, and the waist circumference was 139 cm. The patient presented with evident acanthosis nigricans. Cardiovascular examination was normal. Dermatological examination revealed multiple cutaneous abscesses in the groin and armpit folds, all at stage III according to Hurley staging. Some nodules in the groin were fistulized with pus secretion. The affected areas were inflammatory and painful, but there was no fever. The patient was treated with an anti-staphylococcal agent following the isolation of Staphylococcus in the pus sample, with improvement observed after 14 days. Diabetes was managed with oral antidiabetic medications, including metformin and sulfonylureas, resulting in a fasting blood glucose level of 1.24 g/l.

Conclusion: Hidradenitis suppurativa develops when sebaceous glands and hair follicle openings are blocked by fluid, as well as by dead skin cells or other materials released around the apocrine sweat glands. It is frequently associated with obesity, as described in our patient. Although the disease is chronic and characterized by recurrent episodes, the prognosis is improved with adherence to hygiene and dietary measures, along with weight loss.