Treatment of pemphigus vulgaris: part 2 - emerging therapies.

Treatment of pemphigus vulgaris: part 2 - emerging therapies. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019 Oct 02;: Authors: Yanovsky RL, McLeod M, Ahmed AR Abstract Introduction: Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents have been the mainstay for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) for several decades. While these agents have benefited numerous patients, they have been associated with the risks of prolonged immune suppression and have a high incidence of significant and catastrophic side effects. These side effects can be dose limiting. Relapses are frequent. Novel agents promising targeted therapies, that may be provide better outcomes, are being studied. Areas covered: Recently anti-CD20 therapy in combination with corticosteroids has been recommended as the first line treatment for PV. A number of known and new therapeutic agents currently being studied are, BAFF, P13K, BTK inhibitors along with the use of IVIg and CAR-T therapy. Understanding the proposed therapeutic targets and their possible role in pathophysiology appears to be the rationale for these therapies. If successful they may be valuable to clinicians treating PV by providing them with more therapeutic options, for the treatment of this potentially fatal disease. Expert opinion: Investigators studying these emerging therapies have used agents which have shown some positive outcomes in other autoimmune diseases. Their hope and vision are that they may produce favorable outc...
Source: Expert Review of Clinical Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Expert Rev Clin Immunol Source Type: research