[Correlation between blood eosinophil level and steroid doses in patients with bullous pemphigoid].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the correlation between blood eosinophil (EOS)level and steroid doses in patients of bullous pemphigoid (BP).

METHODS

A total of 82 untreated BP inpatients (n=49) and outpatients (n=33) were enrolled in this study. The blood EOS level and the steroid doses before and after treatment were recorded. The correlation between EOS level and steroid doses was analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

EOS increased in 69 BP patients (84.15%); on the contrary, only 10% of normal controls had increased EOS (t=1.99,P<0.001). In 44 inpatients, the blood EOS remained high before steroid treatment, and quickly returned to normal level after the disease became stable. There was a linear correlation between EOS and steroid doses (Spearman analysis,r=0.496,P<0.001). In 5 patients who were treated by non-steroid approach, EOS level also declined after the disease was resolved.

CONCLUSION

EOS can be one of useful indicators for the application of steroids in the treatment of BP.