Intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of pemphigus

Pemphigus is a group of organ-specific, autoimmune, mucocutaneous blistering disorders with an established immunological basis. The goal of therapy in pemphigus is to eliminate or neutralize the pathogenic autoantibodies. As in other autoimmune diseases, early systemic therapy is important for control of the disease and for achieving sustained remissions. Because of the sparse number of controlled studies, the treatment of autoimmune bullous diseases remains controversial. In this article, we discuss the current therapeutical options in pemphigus with an emphasis on IVIg treatment and suggest guidelines for the use of IVIg in the treatment of pemphigus.