[High dosage steroid pulse therapy. Is there an indication in dermatology?].

In recent years, high-dose steroid pulse therapy has been considered an effective treatment regimen in a number of non-dermatological diseases. This review addresses in the first part the pharmacological basics and mechanisms of action of high-dose glucocorticosteroid therapy. In the second part, we discuss the clinical experience using this treatment for dermatological diseases including pemphigus vulgaris, pyoderma gangrenosum, alopecia areata, and dermatomyositis.