Preliminary findings suggest hidradenitis suppurativa may be due to defective follicular support
Synopsis:
The BMZ PAS positivity of clinically uninvolved FPSUs of patients with HS appears to be wispy or not present at all. It is speculated that this may explain the apparent fragility of the sebofollicular junction. There is an increased concentration of inflammatory cells adjacent to these areas, while inflammatory cells are scarce in areas where the PAS-positive material is intact. It is hypothesized that the PAS gap identifies (i) areas susceptible to leakage, trauma and rupture, leading to release of materials that trigger inflammatory mediators, and (ii) the seeding of the dermis with free-living stem cells generating benign but invasive epithelialized sinuses, spreading horizontally in and below the dermis.
Full study: