Oral cyclophosphamide for treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus - 29/08/11
Abstract |
Background |
Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating adjuvant used in refractory cases of pemphigus.
Objective |
We sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral cyclophosphamide in the treatment of patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) with refractory disease.
Patients |
We studied 23 patients with pemphigus (20 with PV; 3 with PF) who failed to achieve clinical remissions with the use of prednisone and antimetabolites.
Results |
Complete remission was achieved in 17 patients with PV and 2 with PF. A total of 3 patients with PV failed therapy. A partial remission was achieved in 1 patient with PF. The treatment was administered for a median duration of 17 months with a follow-up period of 27 months. The median time to complete remission was 8.5 months. A total of 9 patients who were severely affected received concomitant plasma exchange. Adverse reactions included 5 cases of hematuria, 6 nonlife-threatening infections, and the development of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder 15 years after discontinuation of cyclophosphamide in 1 patient. No death was associated with cyclophosphamide treatment.
Conclusion |
Oral cyclophosphamide is an effective adjuvant in the treatment of severe and refractory PV and PF, but requires close monitoring.
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 | Funding sources: None. Conflict of interest: None identified. |
Vol 49 - N° 2
P. 276-280 - août 2003 Retour au numéro
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- Systemic therapy with cyclophosphamide and anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab) in relapsed primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma: a report of 7 cases
- Maria T Fierro, Paola Savoia, Pietro Quaglino, Mauro Novelli, Manuela Barberis, Maria G Bernengo
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