Abstract |
In a prospective long-term study, thirty-seven patients with severe generalized pemphigus vulgaris were treated with a combined corticosteroid- azathioprine regimen. Twenty-nine patients were available for complete follow-up lasting from 4 to 16 years after initiation of therapy. At the time of final evaluation, twenty-seven patients (93%) were alive; two deaths were unrelated to therapy; thirteen (45%) of the patients were free of disease and had not received treatment for up to 132 months; five of these patients had been off therapy for periods ranging from 60 to 132 months; eleven (38%) of the patients were clinically free of disease but still had low titers of antibodies and thus required low-dose maintenance therapy; five (17%) of the patients were well controlled but not completely free of disease. Side effects were rare and mostly related to corticosteroids. Of the original thirty-seven patients, only one death related to disease or therapy occurred and was due to pulmonary tuberculosis. It is concluded that azathioprine- corticosteroid treatment of pemphigus is highly effective and safe; it leads to long-term remissions in most patients and possibly to a cure in some.
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Authors | W Aberer, E C Wolff-Schreiner, G Stingl, K Wolff |
Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
(J Am Acad Dermatol)
Vol. 16
Issue 3 Pt 1
Pg. 527-33
(Mar 1987)
ISSN: 0190-9622 [Print] United States |
PMID | 3819096
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Autoantibodies
- Glucocorticoids
- Azathioprine
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Topics |
- Aged
- Autoantibodies
(analysis)
- Azathioprine
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Glucocorticoids
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Pemphigus
(drug therapy, immunology)
- Prospective Studies
- Recurrence
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