Dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in pemphigus.

Fifty patients with pemphigus (45 pemphigus vulgaris, 5 pemphigus foliaceus) were treated with dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. The pulse consisted of 136 mg dexamethasone dissolved in 5% dextrose given in a drip over a period of 1-2 hours on 3 consecutive days. In addition, 500 mg cyclophosphamide was added in the drip on the first day. Such pulses were given at monthly intervals. In between the pulses patients were given 50 mg cyclophosphamide orally each day. The results were encouraging, the chief advantage being freedom from side effects of corticosteroid therapy. The lesions healed in 3-4 days and the patients were able to resume their work within one week. Further scope of such therapy in pemphigus is discussed.