Treatment options for autoimmune bullous dermatoses other than systemic steroids: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Bullous Pemphigoid Patients: A 15-Year Review in China

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on clinical outcomes and prognosis factors for bullous pemphigoid (BP) at long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in BP patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study was performed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2023 in Shandong Province, China. The primary outcomes were the rates and predictive factors of mortality, complete remission off-therapy (CROT), and relapse by Cox proportional hazards models or logistic regression analyses. Nomograms for BP mortality and CROT were also described.

RESULTS

Of the 1063 BP patients enrolled, 45 were excluded due to loss to follow-up. The cohort comprised 1018 BP patients to analyze. A total of 344 (33.8%) patients died, with cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year mortality rates of 22.8%, 31.2%, and 34.5%, respectively. Increased age at onset (HR = 1.08), body surface area (BSA) involvement 10-30%, BSA involvement > 30% (HR = 7.19; HR = 9.84, respectively), double-positive IgG and C3 on DIF (HR = 1.37), and systemic corticosteroid in combination  with immunosuppressants treatments (HR = 0.50) were associated with mortality. A total of 321 (31.5%) patients achieved CROT. Cumulative CROT rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 10.9%, 32.9%, and 47.5%, respectively. Shorter diagnosis delay time (HR = 1.01), baseline anti-BP180 antibody < 50 IU/mL (HR = 1.48) and systemic drugs other than corticosteroid treatment (HR = 1.68) were associated with CROT. Predictive models demonstrated outstanding performance in classifying mortality at 1, 3, and 5 years (AUCs 0.83, 0.86, 0.88), but moderate classification for CROT (AUCs 0.67, 0.62, 0.63). A total of 749 (73.6%) patients experienced relapses.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, the first large cohort to examine long-term outcomes in BP patients, identifies risk factors for mortality and CROT, offering key insights for clinicians to improve prognosis and reduce relapse rates.

Potent Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Tetracyclines on Human Eosinophils

Eosinophils are potent pro-inflammatory cells. Not only in allergic diseases but also in other diseases there is a need for treatment strategies to induce resolution of eosinophil-mediated inflammation. During the last years beneficial non-antibiotic activities of tetracyclines (TCNs) have been shown in different diseases in which eosinophils play a role, for example, asthma and bullous pemphigoid. The working mechanism of these effects remains to be clarified. Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of TCNs on eosinophils. Flow cytometry analysis of apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases, intracellular H₂O₂ and calcium, surface expression of eosinophil activation markers was performed in highly purified peripheral blood eosinophils of non-atopic donors. Tetracycline hydrochloride, minocycline and doxycycline significantly induced eosinophil apoptosis. All TCNs were able to significantly overcome the strong survival enhancing effects of pro-eosinophilic cytokines and staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins. Tetracycline hydrochloride induced eosinophil apoptosis was accompanied by intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspases. Moreover, tetracycline hydrochloride significantly down regulated eosinophil surface expression of CD9 and CD45, and of the activation markers CD11b and CD69, but not of CD54, CD63, or CD95. Our data, propably for the first time, point to a potent anti-inflammatory role of TCNs on eosinophils.