Meta-Analysis: IBD Events Are Rare With IL-17 Inhibitors in HS
Key Takeaways
- A systematic review and meta-analysis indicated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) events were rare among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) receiving interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors.
- New-onset IBD occurred in 0.23% of IL-17 inhibitor–treated patients versus no patients receiving placebo through week 16, with no significant between-group difference.
- Higher IBD incidence was reported in nonrandomized studies, but low event counts and inconsistent reporting limited interpretation of the overall evidence.
Interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors were not associated with a statistically significant increase in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in a systematic review and meta-analysis published online in JAMA Dermatology.
IBD Events Remain Rare With IL-17 Inhibitors in HS
Investigators searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception through November 2025. Of 1467 records identified, 24 studies met inclusion criteria, including 10 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 11 nonrandomized studies, and 3 case reports.
Across the 10 RCTs, 6 of 2572 patients receiving IL-17 inhibitors developed new-onset IBD through week 16, an incidence of 0.23%. No new cases occurred among 1066 placebo-treated patients. The difference was not statistically significant (risk difference, 0.002; 95% CI, −0.003 to 0.007).
IBD events were more frequent in nonrandomized evidence. Seven new-onset cases occurred among 469 patients, for a crude incidence of 1.49%. The pooled incidence was 3.90% (95% CI, 2.30% to 6.50%). Across RCTs, long-term extension studies, and nonrandomized studies, investigators identified 17 new-onset IBD cases and 4 flares of preexisting disease.
Interpretation was limited by the small number of events and inconsistent reporting of IBD outcomes across studies, the authors noted.
“In this systematic review and meta-analysis, IBD events were rare,” the authors wrote. “No significant increase in IBD risk was observed with IL-17 inhibitors, although low event rates and inconsistent reporting limited interpretation.”
Source
Cutrona M, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2026. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.3373