RECENT TRENDS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS

Pemphigus vulgaris is perhaps the most formidable disease encountered by dermatologists. In the days before steroid therapy the mortality rate was 95 per cent, death occuring usually within 14 months. The cause of death was septicaemia, starvation and toxic state. Corticosteroid, immunosuppressants and adjuvant therapy have reduced the mortality to 10-40 per cent with the cause of death being uncontrolled pemphigus, complications of corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy, septicaemia and thromboembolism. Elderly patients and patients with extensive lesions have higher mortality rate. Prognosis has further improved by intensive care, adequate fluid replacement, nutritional support, a co-herent antibacterial policy alongwith aggressive corticosteroid therapy and immunosuppressants. Plasmapheresis has been used in patients who fail to respond to conventional management. Extracorporeal photophoresis has been reported to be effective in patients with 'treatment resistance' pemphigus vulgaris.