CompletedPhase 4

Comparative Efficacy of Apremilast and Acitretin in Moderate-to-Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Pakistan70 participantsStarted 2024-12-22

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled trial compares the efficacy of oral apremilast and oral acitretin in the treatment of moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Seventy eligible adults were randomly assigned to receive either apremilast (30 mg twice daily) or acitretin (25 mg twice daily) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was improvement in disease severity measured using the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4). The study aims to determine which treatment provides greater clinical improvement and may help guide treatment decisions for patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 40 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 to 40 years. * Clinically diagnosed moderate hidradenitis suppurativa (International * Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System \[IHS4\] score 4-10) or severe hidradenitis suppurativa (IHS4 score ≥11). * Able and willing to provide written informed consent. * Willing to comply with study visits and treatment for 12 weeks. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy. * Previous severe hypersensitivity or adverse reaction to apremilast or acitretin. * Refusal or inability to provide written informed consent. * Diabetes mellitus. * Severe depression. * Dyslipidemia. * Severe hepatic impairment. * Severe renal impairment.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Treatment Efficacy

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07708480

SponsorHayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-05-22

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hidradenitis Suppurativa trials