Pemphigus vulgaris: Treatment and evolution of 40 patients

A retrospective study was conducted of 40 patients with pemphigus vulgaris seen in the period between 1965 and 1991. The time of follow-up of the patients ranged from 6 months to 25 years 8 months, with a mean of 4 years 10 months. The objective of the study was to assess the therapeutic response and evolution of the patients. All patients included in the study were treated with corticosteroids and 18 also received an adjuvant immunosupp-ressant. The maximum daily corticosteroid dose ranged from 10 to 180 mg prednisone equivalent. Control of the pemphigus vulgaris was obtained in 37 (92.5%) of the 40 patients with a mean daily corticosteroid dose of 77.4 mg prednisone equivalent. After control, 54% of the patients relapsed. At the end of the study, 10 patients (25%) were without lesions and did not require treatment, 16 (40%) were without lesions and receiving treatment, 10 (25%) had lesions and were receiving treatment, 2 (5%) had died of unrelated causes, and 2 (5%) had died due to pemphigus vulgaris and/or its treatment, and in both of these the cause of death was septicaemia.