2018 Volume 128 Issue 6 Pages 1309-1317
A 33-year-old male with a 10-year history of severe hidradenitis suppurativa had suffered from painful recurrent abscesses, purulent drainage, and sinus tract and fistula formation on the head, lower jaw, axillae, groin, and buttocks. He also had systemic inflammation, including high fever, weight-loss of 10 kg, night-sweats and lymphadenopathy for one year. His left groin lymph node biopsy showed numerous plasma cells in the interfollicular areas, and he was diagnosed with Castleman's disease. The systemic inflammation is markedly improved following administration of the interleukin-6-receptor inhibitor, tocilizumab. Interlrukin-6 may be critical in the development of hidradenitis surppurativa in our case.