Plasmapheresis as a steroid saving procedure in bullous pemphigoid

Background Bullous pemphigoid is an immunobullous disease affecting predominantly older patients. In severe cases, high-dose corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressants are often needed long term to control the disease. These can be associated with serious side-effects in this patient population. Objective To evaluate the benefit of plasmapheresis as a steroid saving agent in a cohort of 10 patients. Results Plasmapheresis was effective as a steroid saving therapy. All patients went into remission with a lower daily dosage of oral prednisone at 3 and 6 months postplasmapheresis. Two patients had side-effects from therapy that, while significant, did not interfere with long-term improvement in their disease. Eight patients had circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies reactive with bullous pemphigoid antigen 1, and three of these had circulating antibodies reactive with bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 on Western immunoblot. Conclusions Plasmapheresis was an effective steroid sparing therapy in these patients. Due to its high cost and potential morbidity, plasmapheresis should not be recommended as routine therapy for bullous pemphigoid, but it is a useful adjunct in resistant cases.