Bullous pemphigoid and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: evaluation of clinical course and treatment response

Abstract

Background

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is), drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), show a significant association with bullous pemphigoid (BP) development.

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical course and development of BP among patients with DM2 treated with DPP4is.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included all the patients with BP and comorbid DM2 who visited Sheba Medical Center during 2015−2020.

Results

Among 338 patients with BP, 153 were included in our study. In 92 patients, BP diagnosis was attributed to the use of DPP4is. The patients with DPP4i-associated BP had fewer neurological and cardiovascular comorbidities and higher blistered body surface area (BSA) at first presentation, with noticeable upper and lower limb involvement. These patients were younger and more responsive to treatment, with a greater reduction in their BSA score after 2 months of treatment.

Conclusions

The clinical features of patients with BP treated with DPP4is were initially more severe; however, during follow-up, a marked clinical improvement was noticed, especially among patients who had ceased the drug. Therefore, although withdrawal of the drug may not impose disease remission, it can alleviate the disease course and avert the need for treatment escalation.