Video Topics

Bullous Pemphigoid Treatment

For mild, localized disease, topical steroids may be effective. Oral antibiotics such as tetracycline, minocycline, or erythromycin with or without niacinamide may also provide good treatment results in select patients with localized or generalized BP. Sulfones, such as dapsone or sulfapyridine may also be tried. These have been reported to be effective in up to 44% of BP patients. However, the mainstay of therapy in patients who fail to respond to antibiotics or to dapsone is treatment with systemic corticosteroids. Adjuvant immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine or cyclophosphamide may be necessary in patients with severe disease and may be steroid-sparing. Other therapies with reported benefit include plasmapheresis and itravenous gammaglobulin.