DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i03.064

Pages: 959-962

The standard treatment of pemphigus comprises of systemic steroids and other immunosuppressive agents. Dexamethasone−cyclophosphamide pulse (DCP) therapy has shown promising results in the management of these diseases. The objective of the study was to assess the outcome of DCP therapy in pemphigus. Forty three patients of pemphigus vulgaris diagnosed by Tzank smear and skin biopsy were included in the study. DCP pulse therapy was given to them according to standard protocol. In Results the mean age of patients was 44.7±14.8 years. Three patients were lost to follow up. In five patients DCP therapy was discontinued due to precipitation of diabetes (2), arthritis (1), and cardiac complications (2). Twenty nine patients completed phase I, of which 26 (23 in phase II, 2 in phase III and 1 in phase IV) were maintaining remission and three patients relapsed. Six patients are still in phase I. The commonest side effects observed was increased susceptibility to infections, both bacterial and candidial in 15 patients. However the infections responded to conventional antibacterial and antifungal treatment. In Conclusion all our patients have shown remarkable response to DCP therapy irrespective of their disease activity and severity. The side effects profile was comparable with those from previous studies.