Efficacy and Safety of add-on Dapsone Versus add-on Methotrexate in Patients With Bullous Pemphigoid

Summary

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder most commonly affecting the older population between 60-80 years old. The characteristic feature of BP is itchy patches associated with blisters and erosions. BP significantly affects the patient's quality of life as it causes physical discomfort with itchy patches, blisters, and erosions. Several pieces of evidence from previous studies showed that the production of autoantibodies against the hemidesmosomal anchoring proteins BP180 (Bullous Pemphigoid antigen (BPAG 2)) and BP230 (BPAG 1) is the most common cause for bullous pemphigoid. Therapeutic latency, lack of efficacy in many patients, and adverse drug reactions are the primary concerns in the current bullous pemphigoid treatment paradigm, including high-dose steroid treatment. To overcome these treatment challenges, combination therapy with agents having a steroid-sparing effect like mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and Methotrexate are tested as an add-on to low-dose steroids. 8So other immunosuppressive agents with better safety profiles and more efficacy, like Dapsone and Methotrexate as an add-on to low-dose steroids, can be used. Investigator's literature search found no randomized controlled trial with Dapsone versus Methotrexate as an add-on to first-line steroid has been conducted to compare the efficacy and safety in bullous pemphigoid patients. So, a randomized controlled trial has been planned to evaluate the safety and efficacy of add-on methotrexate versus Dapsone in bullous pemphigoid patients.

Timeline

Start

2023-08-01

Primary completion

2025-01-03

Completion

2025-04-01

Publications

• Background Lu L, Chen L, Xu Y, Liu A. Global incidence and prevalence of bullous pemphigoid: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Oct;21(10):4818-4835. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14797. Epub 2022 Feb 1.
• Background Chen X, Zhang Y, Luo Z, Wu Y, Niu T, Zheng J, Xie Y. Prognostic factors for mortality in bullous pemphigoid: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022 Apr 15;17(4):e0264705. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264705. eCollection 2022.
• Background Genovese G, Di Zenzo G, Cozzani E, Berti E, Cugno M, Marzano AV. New Insights Into the Pathogenesis of Bullous Pemphigoid: 2019 Update. Front Immunol. 2019 Jul 2;10:1506. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01506. eCollection 2019.
• Background Patton T, Korman N. Role of methotrexate in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid in the elderly. Drugs Aging. 2008;25(8):623-9. doi: 10.2165/00002512-200825080-00001.
• Background Tirado-Sanchez A, Diaz-Molina V, Ponce-Olivera RM. Efficacy and safety of azathioprine and dapsone as an adjuvant in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2012 May-Jun;40(3):152-5. doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2010.12.009. Epub 2011 Apr 14.
• Background Sticherling M, Franke A, Aberer E, Glaser R, Hertl M, Pfeiffer C, Rzany B, Schneider S, Shimanovich I, Werfel T, Wilczek A, Zillikens D, Schmidt E. An open, multicentre, randomized clinical study in patients with bullous pemphigoid comparing methylprednisolone and azathioprine with methylprednisolone and dapsone. Br J Dermatol. 2017 Nov;177(5):1299-1305. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15649. Epub 2017 Oct 29.
• Background Rashid H, Lamberts A, Diercks GFH, Pas HH, Meijer JM, Bolling MC, Horvath B. Oral Lesions in Autoimmune Bullous Diseases: An Overview of Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Algorithm. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2019 Dec;20(6):847-861. doi: 10.1007/s40257-019-00461-7.
• Background Reunala T, Salmi TT, Hervonen K. Dermatitis herpetiformis: pathognomonic transglutaminase IgA deposits in the skin and excellent prognosis on a gluten-free diet. Acta Derm Venereol. 2015 Nov;95(8):917-22. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2162.

Drugs

Indications