The efficacy of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was evaluated in pemphigus vulgaris (2 males and 4 females aged 34 to 47 years) and in a 56-year-old male with pemphigus foliaceus. The inclusion criteria for pulse therapy were: prednisone failure, important side effects, recurrence of disease during the withdrawal and maintenance oral prednisone > 40 mg daily. In one case (5 pulses), the maintenance dose of prednisone was reduced to 10 mg; in another case (9 pulses), to 20 mg; in 2 cases (10 pulses), to 20 mg; in 1 case (9 pulses), to 30 mg; in 1 case (7 pulses), no prednisone was required; and in 1 case, the cyclophosphamide was interrupted due to leukopenia.
Cyclophosphamide; Pemphigus; Pulse
