Treatment Of Pemphigus Vulgaris With Brief, High-Dose Intravenous Glucocorticoids

Abstract

Background: Glucocorticoid therapy remains the mainstay of treatment in pemphigus vulgaris although controversy exists about the optimal regiman. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of routine oral prednisolone with high dose intravenous glucocorticoids in treatment of pemphigus vulgaris. Methods: A total of 55 patients with pemphigus vulgaris was enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris was confirmed histologically. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A (26 Patients) was treated with high-dose intravenous glucocorticoids and group B or control group (29 patients) was treated with routine oral prednisolone. Both groups were followed for at least 20 months after initiation of treatment. Results: The results showed complete clinical cure (without relapse in 20 months follow up) in 81% of cases in group A and in 69% of cases in group B (p<0.05). The mean + SD prednisolone daily dose during the 20 months follow up after initiation of treatment was 12+0.38 for A and 15.3 + 1.33 for control group (p<0.05).