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Hidradenitis Suppurativa Genetics Linked to Cardiometabolic Risk

02/07/2025

A high polygenic risk score (PRS) for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is linked to an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes, according to a new analysis of UK Biobank data.

Study researchers included 391,481 individuals of European ancestry with data in UK Biobank in the analysis and sought to identify genetic correlations between HS and cardiometabolic diseases, focusing particularly on CAD and diabetes. The researchers used disequilibrium score regression and logistic regressions to assess genetic correlations and risk associations, as well as Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze time-to-event data, accounting for variables such as sex, age, body mass index, and smoking status.

Genetic variants associated with HS had significant correlations with CAD, diabetes, and plasma biomarkers, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and C-reactive protein. Individuals with a PRS for HS in the ≥75th percentile had odds ratios of 1.09 for CAD and 1.13 for diabetes.

The study authors also identified alterations in the plasma proteome linked to HS genetic risk, with 58 plasma proteins showing differential expression. Incorporating proteomic data and PRS for HS into a machine learning model improved predictions of CAD and diabetes compared to models based solely on demographic factors and BMI.

"These findings suggest that a high genetic risk of HS is associated with increased risk of subsequent CAD and diabetes and altered composition of the plasma proteome," the authors concluded. "Additional investigation into the identified proteins and their potential roles as drug targets is warranted."

Source: Nielsen VW, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2025. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.3779

Schedule8 Feb 2025