Dapsone and Sulfapyridine Therapy of Pemphigoid Diseases

Summary Since 1974, dapsone and sulfapyridine have been used to treat 30 patients with localized oral pemphigoid, 36 with cicatricial pemphigoid, and 11 with cicatricial pemphigoid limited to the eyes; 7 of these 77 patients were less than 50 years of age. Follow‐up was J to 12 years (mean, 4.8 years). Of the 30 patients with localized oral pemphigoid, half were in remission and off treatment at a mean follow‐up of 5 years. Of 25 patients with cicatricial pemphigoid who received dapsone therapy as initial treatment, 15 (60%) had a successful result. Sulfapyridine was successful in three patients and dapsone in six additional patients after other therapy. Thus, dapsone or sulfapyridine therapy was successful in 24 of 34 patients (71%). In 30 patients with pemphigoid limited to the ocular mueosa or cicatricial pemphigoid with ocular manifestations, 25 (83%) responded successfully to dapsone or sulfapyridine; there were no treatment failures among these 30 patients with ocular pemphigoid. Overall, of the 77 patients, of 55 who underwent an evaluable eotirse of dapsone or sulfapyridine therapy, 47 (85%) responded successfully.