Cao Y, Hong F, Conlon DM, et al. - This study, from the USA, unveiled a set of specific blood proteins to help determine patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) for whom adalimumab use will be beneficial. This set of blood proteins may be employed in the future to assist physicians ascertain which therapy would serve the best for patients suffering from HS.

• Levels of various specific circulating proteins were recorded before patients were given adalimumab and following 12 weeks of treatment in clinical trials of the drug.

• Lower levels of certain proteins linked with inflammatory diseases were found, even before beginning adalimumab therapy, in patients who exhibited disease improvement.

• Additionally, a greater decrease in specific proteins that promote inflammation was evident in patients who improved while being managed with adalimumab.