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Before commencing the treatment for Pemphigus it is necessary that Pemphigus is diagnosed properly. Different types of diagnostic tests are carried out to confirm the type of Pemphigus that is found in the patient. Only upon diagnosis of the same, the treatment is started. The starting point of the diagnosis is the visual examination that is carried out by a dermatologist. It is necessary that the doctor get your complete history and noting down the location of the blisters and the appearance of the blisters. The next step is to go for a biopsy so that the blister is observed under a microscope to find out the layer of the skin that is affected. The characteristic of the cell separation is observed by the biopsy. The next diagnostic test that is carried out is Direct Immunofluorescence. In this test the sample subjected to a chemical compound which determines the type of antibody that is formed that causes Pemphigus. This test helps to determine the type of Pemphigus in the patient. An Indirect Immunofluorescence diagnostic test is also carried in which the blood sample is tested for the antibodies level that caused Pemphigus. This gives the severity of the Pemphigus in the patient. During the course of the treatment too, this test is done to find out the effectiveness of the treatment.
Oral corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Pemphigus Vulgaris and other types of Pemphigus to bring it under control. Prednisone is one medication that has anti inflammatory properties and it is used in the treatment of the Pemphigus. Once Pemphigus is under control the dosage of the oral corticosteroid is reduced gradually so that the side effects of using oral corticosteroids are reduced. In order to keep Pemphigus under control some of the patients might need to take minimal level of the corticosteroids for a longer time. The corticosteroid Prednisone is available as oral medication or as an injection. The injection can be used in the vein or muscle or on the blister itself. The method adopted in administering the corticosteroid depends on the severity of the Pemphigus in the patient. High doses of the medications are given during the start of the treatment and gradually reduced when Pemphigus comes under control.
As we know that Pemphigus is caused by the attack of the cell surfaces by the autoantibodies, it is necessary to give the patient some immunosuppressive drugs so that the attack on the cell surfaces are reduced thus bringing Pemphigus under control. To the corticosteroids recommended for the treatment, immunosuppressive drugs are also added. CellCept, Imuran, Cytoxan and Methotrexate are some of the immunosuppressive drugs that can be used along with the corticosteroids. Apart from the above drugs, antibiotics like tetracyline might also be used in the treatment. This drugs may order at . The dermatologist will decide on the course of the treatment and the drugs needed for the treatment of Pemphigus that the patients suffer.
The medications that are used in the treatment of Pemphigus might cause serious side effects in the patients. Hence the patients should be monitored or informed about the serious side effects that might occur to them. Regular urine and blood tests are done during the treatment to check the progress of the treatment for Pemphigus. If you experience any serious side effects do not hesitate to contact your doctor immediately.
Some of the side effects that a patient might experience during the treatment of Pemphigus are swelling of face, water retention, loss of muscle mass, glaucoma, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer and type 2 diabetics. Bone density is checked during the treatment so as to prevent osteoporosis. If the bone density if found to decrease then remedial treatments to increase bone density with Calcium and Vitamin D intake is done. The patients might be advised to be on low sugar diet to prevent diabetics.
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