title: Pemphigus vulgaris-associated Kaposi's sarcoma: response to paclitaxel and review of the literature.
abstract: Systemic corticosteroids have long been the mainstay of treatment for pemphigus patients. However, the necessity of their high-dose and long-term administration has brought about a number of complications, sometimes causing significant morbidities. Maintaining a balance between therapeutic and undesirable effects of medications is not always easily achievable. Therefore, additional treatment modalities are frequently needed to control side-effects. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare, potentially life-threatening complication in this setting. Due to the rarity of data on pemphigus-associated KS treatment, the best therapeutic approach is still undecided. Here, we report two cases of pemphigus patients who had developed extensive KS as a result of severe immunosuppressive therapy and were successfully treated with paclitaxel. In addition, we performed a review of literature to assess the results of the previously employed treatment modalities in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Centre, Razi hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balighi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daneshpazhooh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghazadeh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hejazi
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aryanian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizpour
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chams-Davatchi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel