Abstract
Background and objectives: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is a rare, life- threatening autoimmune disease of the skin and mucous membranes characterized histologically by intraepidermal blister and acantholysis and immunologically by the presence of antiepidermal autoantibodies with the IgG nature in the serum of patients and bound to the epithelial intercellular spaces of lesional epithelium. This study was performed to determine circulatory and depositing IgG before treatment and effects of immunosuppressive therapy on the circulatory IgG.
Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients (34 females and 28 males) with clinically and pathologically confirmed P.V were studied prospectively over a one – year period of time during which direct and indirect immunofluorescent tests were performed before and after treatment. They had mild or moderate forms of disease. All patients received prednisolon 1-2 mg/kg/day and Azathioprine 2-3 mg/kg/day or methylpredisolon (1gr/day for 4 days) and cyclophosphamide (500mg/first day) pulse therapy due to general condition.
Results: Thirty- four females and 28 males enrolled, the mean age were 39.5 years
(SD= 12.7). Before treatment, 20 and 52 cases were positive for skin depositing (+ or ++) and circulatory IgG (1/20 – 1/60), respectively. Two to 3 month later, 37 were IgG positive with titers 1/20 to 1/160. The correlation between circulatory IgG before and after treatment was weakly positive (P= 0.05, r= 0.415).
Conclusion: The amount of circulatory IgG wasn’t considerably decreased by treatment protocols.