Topical class I corticosteroids in 10 patients with bullous pemphigoid: correlation of the outcome with the severity degree of the disease and review of the literature.
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| Abstract | BACKGROUND: Treatment of bullous pemphigoid (BP) with systemic immunosuppressive agents, in particular with systemic corticosteroids, has many long-term side-effects. A dozen reports were published regarding the efficacy of topical corticosteroids in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of potent class I topical corticosteroids in relation to the affected body surface area (BSA) in patients with bullous pemphigoid and to review the literature. METHODS: An open prospective trial with 10 patients with BP with measurement of the affected BSA. Treatment protocol consisted of three steps: potent class I topical corticosteroid treatment, systemic tetracyclines and systemic corticosteroids. Follow-up period was between 24 and 72 months. RESULTS: Our study suggests a correlation between the success rate of topical corticosteroid treatment and the body surface area initially affected: all patients with an affected BSA of less than 20% healed with topical treatment only. The patients with more than 40% affected BSA needed systemic treatment with steroids. CONCLUSION: Topical class I corticosteroids seem to be effective in healing lesions of BP, especially if less than 20% of the BSA is affected. This study comprises only 10 patients, making further studies necessary to draw definite conclusions.
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| Authors | A Stockman, H Beele, Y Vanderhaeghen, J M Naeyaert |
| Journal | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 18 Issue 2 Pg. 164-8 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 0926-9959 [Print] England |
| PMID | 15009295 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review) |
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