Recommendations for the use of immunoapheresis in the treatment of autoimmune bullous diseases

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06342.x
• Publication Date: 2007-10-03T07:16:51Z
• Authors: Detlef Zillikens; Kurt Derfler; Rüdiger Eming; Gerhard Fierlbeck; Matthias Goebeler; Michael Hertl; Silke C. Hofmann; Franz Karlhofer; Ocko Kautz; Martin Nitschke; Andreas Opitz; Sven Quist; Christian Rose; Stefan Schanz; Enno Schmidt; Iakov Shimanovich; Michael Michael; Fabian Ziller
• Keywords: Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous; Immunoglobulins; Dermatology; Plasmapheresis; Autoimmune Diseases; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Germany; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Practice Patterns, Physicians'

Summary Despite the use of high‐dose systemic corticosteroids in combination with other immunosuppressants, some patients autoimmune bullous diseases only insufficient improvement is achieved. In these cases and acute severe disease, adjuvant immunoapheresis has been increasingly used. A consensus meeting was held mid‐2005 Hamburg, aiming at developing guidelines for treatment diseases.This paper summarizes experts‘ recommendations.