A practical approach to treating autoimmune bullous disorders with systemic medications

The bullous diseases comprise a heterogeneous group of skin disorders with distinct clinical and histological findings. They are characterized histologically by clefts at varying depths in the skin and are pathologically caused either by congenital defects or autoantibodies. Autoimmune bullous disorders are chronic conditions with significant morbidity and mortality in untreated patients. With the advent of immunosuppressive medications, mortality from these diseases has decreased significantly. However, complications from therapy itself are common causes of morbidity in these patients. Therefore, treatment of autoimmune bullous diseases is a challenge, as patients must remain on chronic medications with side effects that limit their use. This article aims to provide a practical approach to understanding the available medications for the treatment of autoimmune bullous diseases.