Efficacy and safety of low-dose interleukin 2 in the treatment of moderate-to-severe bullous pemphigoid: A single center perspective-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are reduced in the peripheral blood and skin lesions of patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP). Low-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapy can stimulate Tregs specifically, suggesting potential for the treatment of BP.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the response to low-dose IL-2 therapy in the treatment of moderate-to-severe BP.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with moderate-to-severe BP were included. The therapy included systemic corticosteroids with an initial dose of 0.5 mg/kg/d for moderate and 1.0 mg/kg/d for severe disease, respectively, combined with allowed immunosuppressants for the control group, whereas in addition to the same corticosteroid therapy, IL-2 (half million IU) was administered subcutaneously every other day for the treatment group for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the number of days required to achieve disease control. Secondary outcomes included other clinical responses.

RESULTS

The number of days required to achieve disease control with the treatment group was (7.60 ± 3.00), which was shorter than in the control group (10.43 ± 3.06) (P = .008). The total amount of systemic corticosteroids was less, and no serious infections were detected in the treatment group.

LIMITATIONS

Single center, open-label study with short duration and small size.

CONCLUSION

Our trial supports the potential of low-dose IL-2 therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe BP, which showed earlier treatment responses.