Therapy Changes During Pemphigus Management: A Retrospective Analysis

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Roberta Scarpone¹  Wojciech Francuzik¹  Margitta Worm¹  Guido Heine² 

[1]Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

[2]Division of Allergy, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

关键词: pemphigus;    treatment;    therapy changes;    retrospective study;    autoantibodies;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2020.581820

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Pemphigus diseases are rare, and the treatment response differs between patients. Several therapy changes are often required to achieve disease control and avoid unwanted side effects. We aimed to analyze the treatment courses of pemphigus patients and the clinical responses regarding therapy changes. Pemphigus patients in our center were retrospectively examined according to the medication and dosage, disease activity, reason for treatment changes, and autoantibody concentrations. Therapy changes due to insufficient therapeutic effects or side effects were analyzed. Seventy-seven pemphigus patients with repeated consultations were identified (81% pemphigus vulgaris, 19% pemphigus foliaceus). Disease control was achieved in 66 patients (86%; score “almost clear” or “clear”), with an average of 4 different therapy regimens (range 1–18 changes), after an average of 2 years of treatment (range 0–11 years). Twenty-two patients (29%) with refractory disease received rituximab, of which 19 (86%) subsequently achieved remission. Anti-desmoglein-1 and−3 concentrations correlated with disease severity, but not with the number of treatment changes. The identification of an effective and safe therapy for the individual pemphigus patient is a challenge and often requires time, which is reflected by a high number of therapy changes. Predictive parameters are warranted to directly identify the safest and most efficient treatment regimen for an individual patient.

【 授权许可】

CC BY