title: Diagnosis and treatment of patients with autoimmune bullous disorders in Germany.
abstract: In Germany, more than 2000 new patients per year have been calculated to be diagnosed with autoimmune blistering diseases. In a recent survey, the most frequently applied treatment regimens for bullous pemphigoid were class IV topical corticosteroids and oral prednisolone 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg/kg/d plus dapsone or azathioprine. For pemphigus, two-thirds of the clinics applied oral prednisolone at doses of 1.0 mg or 1.5 mg/kg/d and in more than 80% of departments, azathioprine was chosen as concomitant immunosuppressant. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, and immunoadsorption are increasingly used for refractory patients. Treatment and diagnostic costs are covered by the health insurances when applied according to published expert recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. enno.schmidt@uk-sh.de
authors.forename: Enno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zillikens
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003880:Dermatology / Q000191:economics; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007348:Insurance, Health; D051381:Rats; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D003622:Dapsone