Pemphigoid gestationis: Treatment with immunoapheresis

Background: Pemphigoid (herpes) gestationis is a rare blistering disease of pregnancy. Topical and systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines are usually sufficient for treatment. Case report: A patient suffering from severe, therapy-resistant pemphigoid gestationis was successfully treated with the additional use of six sessions of immunoapheresis. Systemic corticosteroids could be tapered and serum autoantibody levels to bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (BPAG2 = BP180) significantly dropped during this treatment. Conclusion: Immunoapheresis represents a helpful therapeutic option with few side effects for severe cases of pemphigoid gestationis, unresponsive to conventional treatment.