Q. What is pemphigus? What is the best treatment? A. Pemphigus
is a general term that describes four different disease
entities, which we refer to as the Pemphigus Complex, primarily
limited to the skin. All are considered to be immune mediated
diseases. The four different types are pemphigus vulgaris,
pemphigus vegetans, pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus
erythematosus. Both the prognosis and treatment for pemphigus
varies with the specific form of the disease and the severity of
the disease in a particular patient. Ogólnie, pemphigus is
treated with various immunomodulating agents, the most common of
which is a glucocorticoid, such as prednisone. Glucocorticoids
do not work in all patients, though other drugs, such as
azathioprine; chlorambucil and cyclosporine are often used. What
is critically important is to have a proper diagnosis made by
biopsy of the lesions and referral of the biopsies to a
dermatopathology specialist. A specialist is critically
important, because special stains (immunofluorescent typ