title: Double filtration plasmapheresis for the treatment of bullous pemphigoid: a three case report.
abstract: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease caused by an antidermal basal lamina antibody. In recent years double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) has been reported to be an effective therapy for BP. We experienced 3 cases of BP treated by DFPP. DFPP resulted in an improvement in clinical symptoms and remission allowing a decrease in the required dose of corticosteroid. DFPP was found to be an effective treatment for all 3 patients without noticeable adverse events resulting from DFPP. From these results it is concluded that DFPP is worth considering as an option as treatment for BP patients who were unresponsive to conventional steroid therapy, those in whom corticosteroids should be reduced or discontinued because of complications such as diabetes mellitus and/or osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Center of Blood Purification Therapy and Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Japan. yukiko@wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitabata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakurane
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamimura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siizaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narukawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaketaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akizawa
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones