A Pilot Study of Etanercept Treatment for Pemphigus Vulgaris

P emphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune blistering disease associated with a high morbidity rate and potential mortality. Current therapies are not uniformly effective and are associated with potential adverse effects; thus, there is a need for new therapeutic options for PV. Data from in vitro experiments and mouse models suggest that tumornecrosis factor (TNF)hasa role inPVpathogenesis. Etanercept is a recombinant fusion protein of the extracellular ligand-bindingdomainofhuman75-kDaTNF receptor and the Fc portion of human IgG1 that acts as a competitive inhibitor of TNF. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept for PV therapy.