RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by blisters and erosions forming in the mucous membranes and the skin. Many patients are severely impaired by pain, weight loss and increased risk of infections. The disease is mediated by specific autoantibodies directed against desmogleins that contribute to connect keratinocytes in the epidermis. Autoantibody deposition in the skin causes inflammation and intraepidermal akantholysis. The concentration of autoantibodies in serum correlates with disease activity. Therefore, the removal of autoantibodies by immunoadsorption is a targeted therapeutic intervention for patients with pemphigus vulgaris. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 9 patients with pemphigus vulgaris resistant to the standard treatment regimen were treated by immunoadsorption using the TheraSorb™-Ig adsorber system and analyzed retrospectively. Patients received immunoadsorption on two or four consecutive days. Cycles were repeated every two or four weeks, respectively. Treatment was performed for a mean period of 17.5 months (range 6-26). Outcome was measured as improvement in clinical disease analyzed by the investigators global assessment and the reduction of autoantibodies in serum measured by indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA. Tolerability of treatment by patients was evaluated using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of 9 patients consecutively treated by immunoadsorption revealed an 80% reduction of the autoantibody concentration in serum after 6 months of treatment, led to a clinical improvement of disease in combination with classical immunosuppression. Steroid consumption could be reduced by 50% after 30 and 75% after 90 days. Therapy resulted in a total response rate of 89%, with 56% of patients reaching partial and 33% complete remission. The bi-weekly treatment regimen resulted in effective improvement of disease and was in favor to the 4-weekly regimen by the subjective judgment of tolerability by the patients. CONCLUSION: Immunoadsorption for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris is safe and effective. The good tolerability of a bi-weekly treatment regimen shown here might be a valuable therapeutic option in further studies defining the optimal frequency of immunoadsorption required in treatment of pemphigus.
