title: Dapsone as first line therapy for bullous pemphigoid.
abstract: In an open study, a total of 18 patients with proven bullous pemphigoid (16 new patients and two in relapse) were treated with a trial of dapsone (17 patients) or sulphonimide (one patient). Overall, eight patients were controlled on one of these agents as the sole treatment (44%). Six patients had a partial, but inadequate response, while four did not respond. The responses to the sulpha drugs were generally rapid, i.e. within 2 weeks, and the maximum doses used in any patient were 100 mg/day dapsone and 1.5 g/day of sulphapyridine or sulphamethoxypyridazine. Significant side-effects to dapsone occurred in six of the 17 patients. A trial of a sulphone or sulphonamide drug is warranted in bullous pemphigoid both as an initial treatment or in the treatment of relapse, particularly when there is a contraindication to the use of corticosteroids. Side-effects are common and therapy needs to be closely monitored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Slade Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Venning
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wojnarowska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003622:Dapsone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013427:Sulfapyridine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003622:Dapsone; D013427:Sulfapyridine