Failure of treatment of familial widespread hidradenitis suppurativa with isotretinoin

Isotretinoin has been used in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa with varying degrees of success. We investigated a family of six subjects with widespread hidradenitis suppurativa and treated them with isotretinoin at a dose of r mg kg for 4 months. No improvement was obtained and the subjects noted a flare in their disease activity alter stopping the drug. The rationale for treating hidradenitis suppurativa with isotretinoin is called into question.