[Trials with therapeutic plasmapheresis in pemphigus vulgaris]

A seventeen year old female with pemphigus vulgaris was treated by exchange plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis was performed five times over three weeks. Each procedure significantly reduced the serum level of intercellular antibodies. Without immunosuppressive therapy and with only moderate doses of corticosteroids the clinical symptoms had improved after the three weeks period. Plasmapheresis represents an alternative therapeutical possibility in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris in order to achieve a rapid reduction in circulating levels of the intercellular antibodies.