IHS4

International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disease presenting as painful subcutaneous nodules that most commonly affects areas with apocrine sweat glands, such as the axillae, groin, and the gluteal area. The International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4) is a validated tool for dynamically assessing the severity of HS. <br /><br />The IHS4 score is calculated by adding the number of nodules, abscesses, and draining tunnels, with different weights for each type of lesion. A total score of 3 or less signifies mild, 4–10 signifies moderate, and 11 or higher signifies severe disease. IHS4 emphasizes the role of draining tunnels, which are a major feature of HS. <br /><br />The IHS4 score can be used to monitor disease progression and treatment response in patients with HS. It has been validated as a tool to assess HS severity in both real-life and clinical trial settings.