Effect of plasmapheresis therapy on circulating levels of pemphigus antibodies.

We determined the circulating levels of pemphigus antibodies in 11 patients with pemphigus treated with plasmapheresis, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive drugs and in 11 patients treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs alone. Three weeks after hospitalization, the average titer of pemphigus antibodies had decreased from admission levels by 83% in patients treated with plasmapheresis but by only 18% in the other group (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that plasmapheresis, in conjunction with high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, reduces circulating levels of pemphigus antibodies more rapidly than conventional therapy.