Bullous pemphigoid responding to sulfapyridine and the sulfones

Since 1968, a total of 84 patients with bullous pemphigoid have been seen at the Mayo Clinic. Of these, 41 were given a trial of sulfapyridine or dapsone, and six showed a significant response. In five patients, the condition was controlled completely. All responsive patients showed indirect and direct immunofluorescent tests indistinguishable from typical bullous pemphigoid. The patients, however, were somewhat younger (mean 54 years) than others having pemphigoid; and in two patients, biopsy specimens showed a reversal of the usual eosinophilic predominance over neutrophils. Three of the six patients were also diabetic.