Novel prognostic factors and combination therapy outcomes in Morbihan disease: insights from an Asian population

This study aimed to identify novel prognostic factors for Morbihan disease (MD) treatment outcomes and evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy in an Asian population, addressing the gaps in current understanding of this rare condition. We conducted a retrospective analysis of MD patients diagnosed and treated at a tertiary hospital between 2017 and 2023. Patients received combinations of oral medications (tetracycline, isotretinoin, corticosteroids), topical treatments (tacrolimus, ivermectin), and intralesional steroid injections. Treatment response (TR) was defined as complete symptom remission, while partial remission or recurrence was considered a poor response (PR). Clinical, histological, and biochemical parameters were analyzed to identify prognostic factors. The study included 24 patients (18 men; mean age 61.3 years). Ten patients (41.7%) achieved TR, while 14 (58.3%) showed PR. Significant prognostic factors for TR included shorter symptom duration (≤ 3 months, p = 0.016), lower LDL cholesterol levels (≤ 89 mg/dL, p = 0.046), combination treatment with oral and topical medications (p = 0.033 at 6 months), and partial response at 1 month (p = 0.017). GLMM analysis identified the number of visits (p