Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33230804›Full record

SynthesisDrugs & aging2021

Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid in People Aged 80 Years and Older: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Meital Oren-Shabtai, Noa Kremer, Moshe Lapidoth, Eran Sharon, Lihi Atzmony, Adi Nosrati, Emmilia Hodak, Daniel Mimouni, Assi Levi

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Drugs & aging, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Management of Bullous Pemphigoid and Norwegian Scabies with Dupilumab Plus Ivermectin.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Meital Oren-Shabtai *Division of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel. meital.oren@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-9250-8351
Noa Kremer *Division of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Moshe LapidothDivision of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Eran SharonSackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Lihi AtzmonyDivision of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Adi NosratiDivision of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Emmilia HodakDivision of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Daniel MimouniDivision of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Assi LeviDivision of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Ze'ev Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Tel Aviv University · IL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBullous pemphigoid commonly affects older adults and has a detrimental effect on both quality of life and longevity. Systemic corticosteroids, the mainstay of therapy, may cause significant adverse effects, especially in older patients. Therefore, safer therapeutic options are being sought.

objectiveThe objective of this article was to systematically review the published evidence on the efficacy and safety of different treatment modalities for bullous pemphigoid in older patients.

methodsWe performed a systematic review of all publications until May 2020 in PubMed, Google Scholar, and the ongoing trials registry of the US National Institutes of Health databases evaluating the efficacy and safety of bullous pemphigoid treatments in patients aged older than 80 years. The primary outcome was complete response. The secondary outcomes were partial response, complete remission on minimal therapy or during tapering, recurrence, adverse events, and mortality.

resultsTwenty-eight publications were included: 2 randomized controlled trials, 5 prospective cohort studies, 10 retrospective cohort studies, and 11 case series, with a total of 153 older patients. The overall complete response rate was 31%. Topical corticosteroids had the highest complete response rate (55%) with a low side-effect profile. Biologics (omalizumab and rituximab) were effective in achieving complete remission on minimal therapy (29%) without recurrence, although rituximab was associated with a relatively high mortality rate (29%).

conclusionsCurrent data suggest that topical corticosteroids are effective and safe and should remain the first line of treatment for bullous pemphigoid in older adults. However, their application is difficult and requires a high-functioning patient, third-party assistance, or a relatively mild disease. Biological agents are effective but warrant meticulous patient selection owing to the relatively high mortality rate associated with rituximab. CLINICAL

trial registrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42020186686.

Indexed as

Pemphigoid, BullousAgedHumansNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalProspective StudiesQuality of LifeRetrospective StudiesUnited States

Identifiers

PMID33230804
OpenAlexW3107816247

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.