%0 Journal Article
%T Real-life impact of immunologic tests to predict relapse after treatment cessation in patients with bullous pemphigoid: A French multicenter retrospective study.
%A Battesti G
%A Garcia C
%A Viguier M
%A Marchal V
%A Castel M
%A Joly P
%A Ledard AP
%A Konstantinou MP
%A Seta V
%A Cordel N
%A Duvert-Lehembre S
%A Tancrède-Bohin E
%A Belmondo T
%A Ingen-Housz-Oro S
%A d'Incan M
%J J Am Acad Dermatol
%V 86
%N 6
%D 06 2022
%M 35091001
%F 15.487
%R 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.01.016
%X A high level of anti-BP180 antibodies on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a persistent positive direct immunofluorescence at the end of treatment (immunologic tests, [ITs]) are predictors of relapse after treatment cessation (TC) in patients with bullous pemphigoid.<BR>To evaluate the real-life impact of the immunologic-based decision of TC on the 3- and 6-month relapse rates after TC in bullous pemphigoid.<BR>Retrospective multicentric study included patients followed almost 6 months after TC. Patients were classified according to whether the TC decision was in accordance with the results of ITs performed during the 3 months before TC, despite the results of ITs or without ITs performed.<BR>We included 238 patients. Three months after TC, 36 patients showed relapse: 14 of 95 patients with TC in accordance with IT results (14.7%); 5 of 21 with TC despite ITs (23.8%); and 17 of 122 with TC without ITs (13.9%; P = .5). Six months after TC, the relapse rate was 18.9%, 28.6%, and 18.9% (P = .56), respectively, in the 3 groups.<BR>The retrospective design and the limited follow up.<BR>In real-life practice, in bullous pemphigoid, the 3- and 6-month relapse rates were not significantly reduced with TC decision based on results of ITs as compared with a classic clinical-based decision.