The role of cyclosporine A in the treatment of pemphigus erythematosus.
Steroids are effective in the autoimmune bullous disease pemphigus; however, treatment may be difficult to sustain because of severe side effects. Cyclosporine A acts mainly on helper/inducer T lymphocytes and has few side effects at low doses. We report three patients with pemphigus erythematosus who had a relapse while receiving the maintenance dose of steroid therapy. All patients who were treated with both cyclosporine A (5 mg/kg/d) and prednisone (1 mg/kg/d) responded remarkably well to combined therapy. After clearing, prednisone was discontinued and cyclosporine A was reduced to 2 to 3 mg/kg/d. With this treatment, all patients have been virtually free of symptoms, have remained well, and have had normal laboratory values.
Campolmi
P
P
Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, Italy.
Bonan
P
P
Lotti
T
T
Palleschi
G M
GM
Fabbri
P
P
Panconesi
E
E
D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence
D016572:Cyclosporine; D011241:Prednisone