title: The management of mucous membrane pemphigoid and pemphigus.
abstract: Mucous membrane pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris are autoimmune blistering disorders in which many similar drugs and therapeutic strategies are utilized. In general, localized disease can be treated with topical agents. In contrast, patients with more severe and progressive disease usually require a combination of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medications. Oral corticosteroids, adjuvant immunosuppressive agents, antibiotics such as dapsone and immunomodulatory procedures like intravenous immunoglobulin are the main therapeutic agents used in treating these two disorders. Much of the morbidity and mortality associated with these disorders are related to the sites involved and to the drugs used for therapy. Treatment should be individualized based on severity, extent, and rate of progression of disease, comorbidities, and age of the patient. Serum levels of specific autoantibodies and indirect immunofluorescence titers, in certain cases, can be used to monitor response to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic/Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Richelle M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Knudson
authors.forename: Amer N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kalaaji
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010956:Plasmapheresis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents