Pemphigus: a 20-year review of 107 patients treated with corticosteroids

We review 107 consecutive cases of pemphigus. The mortality for pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus vegetans was 46% between 1949 and 1959 and 24% between 1960 and 1970. The overall mortality for all types of pemphigus was 32%. In the corticosteroid era, complications of therapy were the most frequent causes of death. Mortality and morbidity closely correlated with the corticosteroid dosage used to attain control. This dosage proved to be variable and could not be predicted at the outset in any given patient.