Peculiarities of Quality of Life in Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris according to the Results of the Analysis of the SF-36V2 Questionnaires and Dermatological Index of Quality of Life in the Background of Glucocorticosteroid Therapy
Authors:   Zaporozhye State Medical University, Department of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology with Course of FPE Aesthetic Medicine Dermatovenerology. 26, Maiakovskyi Ave., Zaporizhzhia 69035, Ukraine, Litvinov V. A. 
Published: December 2021

The purpose of the study was to carry out a comparative assessment of the parameters of the quality of life in patients with pemphigus vulgaris according to the results of the analysis of the SF-36V2 questionnaires and the dermatological index of the quality of life against the background of glucocorticosteroid therapy. Materials and methods. The results of the study are based on the data of a comprehensive study and further follow-up of 47 patients with pemphigus vulgaris (of which 30 are the main group and 17 are the comparison group) who were hospitalized at the Zaporizhzhya Regional Skin and Venereal Clinical Dispensary, Zaporizhzhia. At the time of observation, the majority of patients were aged 61-70 years old. As a control group, 20 apparently healthy people were examined, randomized by age and sex. Results and discussion. Pemphigus vulgaris is a severe systemic dermatosis, which, according to the literature, accounts for about 1% in the structure of dermatological pathology, the main pathomorphological sign of which is acantholysis. Although the share of pemphigus vulgaris in the structure of dermatological pathology is 0.6 per 100 thousand people per year, the severity of the disease and its outcome determine the relevance of further study of the pathogenesis of dermatosis and the search for new effective therapies. The etiology of true pemphigus still remains unclear. The obtained results of questioning the patients with the SF-36V2 questionnaires and the dermatological index of quality of life indicate a significant negative impact of pemphigus vulgaris on the key parameters of the quality of life of patients in the main group and in the comparison group before treatment – the ability to perform their daily duties, work or study, have personal relationships, and also on the desire to be treated and adhere to all the rules of the therapy. Patients with pemphigus vulgaris in the group of monotherapy with glucocorticosteroids had statistically worse indicators of the quality of life after treatment than patients with additional use of Armadin, which was characterized by a low level of physical activity, an increase in the role of physical and psychoemotional problems in everyday life, general discomfort and subjective health. Conclusion. Evaluation of the quality of life of patients allowed for a more qualified study of the health disorders of patients with pemphigus vulgaris, to see the essence of the clinical problem, to select the most optimal treatment regimen for each patient, and also to assess the expected results in terms of parameters that are on the verge of a scientific approach and evidence-based medicine on the one hand, and also the subjective point of view of patients with pemphigus vulgaris on the other hand