Refractory endemic pemphigus foliaceous in adolescence successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin

Abstract

Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceous is a chronic autoimmune bullous skin disease. Treatment with prednisone often produces excellent results, but resistant forms exist, requiring alternative therapy. Alternative treatments have been used in cases of corticosteroid-refractory pemphigus, showing favorable results. This case study focuses on an adolescent male with a clinical-pathological diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceous with a severe clinical form of erythrodermis, unresponsive to multiple therapies, but which showed a satisfactory outcome with intravenous immunoglobulin. In this case we highlight the fact that the patient was a teenager who showed substantial clinical improvement as the result of using intravenous immunoglobulin, followed by complete remission after the fourth cycle of medication, allowing reduced doses of steroids and a consequent reduction of side effects. © 2011 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.