Abstract: Objective To study the clinical features, laboratory findings and therapy of patients with bullous pemphigoid. Methods Clinical data of 89 cases of bullous pemphigoid were retrospectively analyzed. Results The male female ratio was 1.07:1. The mean age of first onset was 58 years old. Patients presented erythema multiforme and dermatitis herpetiformis like lesions besides typical bullae and erythema. Oral mucosal lesions occurred in 33.7% of patients, and oral bullae and erosions were the inital symptoms in 6.7% of patients. Nikolsky's sign was present in 18% of patients. Direct and indirect immunoflorescence were positive in 95% and 74.4% of patients, respectively. The patients were mainly treated with corticosteroids or the combination of corticosteroids with immunosuppressive agents. The mean dose of coricosteroid needed to control lesions was 65.5 mg (equivalent of prednisone), except patients treated with pulse therapy of corticosteroids. Conclusions Histopathological and immunofluorescent findings are the most important evidence for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. The maximum doses needed to control lesions vary greatly in different individuals.

Key words: Pemphigoid, bullous