Pemphigus Vulgaris: Defining Disease States And Treatment Outcomes

• Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune bullous skin disease which is divided into pemphigus vulgaris (disorder of desmoglein 3) and Pemphigus foliaceus (desmoglein 1, endemic form=fogo selvagem).
• This consensus has all its sense especially for pemphigus vulgaris as it is a non curable disease. Therefore it is very important to be able to classify disease states, for the of  purpose research (both benchmark and clinical) as well as for management of the patient.

• The following terms are defined:

1. Early observation points: Baseline, Control of disease activity, Time to disease control, End of the consolidation phase
2. Late observation end points: Complete remission off therapy, Complete remission on therapy
3. Other definitions: Minimal therapy, Minimal adjuvant therapy, Partial remission off therapy, Partial remission on minimal therapy, Relapse/flare

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Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information: Cianchini G, Diaz L, Fivenson D, Hall R, Harman KE, Hashimoto T, Hertl M, Hunzelmann N, Iranzo P, Joly P, Jonkman MF, Kitajima Y, Korman NJ, Martin LK, Mimouni D, Pandya AG, Payne AS, Rubenstein D, Shimizu H, Sinha AA, Sirois D, Zillikens D, Werth VP. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Jun;58(6):1043-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.01.012.