Ninety-eight cases of various types of pemphigus were treated between 1978-1987. Sixty-one cases were pemphigus vulgaris (PV), 22 cases were pemphigus foliaceus, generalized type (PFG) in which one case developed pemphigus vegetans, 11 cases were pemphigus foliaceus localized type (PFL), and four cases were pemphigus erythematosus (PE). Fifteen mild cases of PV and three mild PFG were treated with corticosteroid (prednisolone or prednisone) alone, and dapsone or cyclophosphamide (CP) were added as treatment failed in two cases of each. Dapsone alone was used effectively in three cases of mild PV. Eight cases of moderate and three cases of severe PV, as well as five cases of moderate PFG, failed to respond to corticosteroid alone but were cleared by the addition of CP. Thirty-two moderate cases of PV and PFG treated with a combination of corticosteroid 60 mg/day plus initial CP and 14 severe cases of PV and PFG treated with corticosteroid 120 mg/day plus initial CP, resulted in clearing skin lesions in 2 months. Azathioprine or chlorambucil were substituted in three cases who developed CP toxicity. Addition of gold sodiumthiomalate in six refractory cases when the above regimens failed, caused a complete remission in two and partial control in four. Higher dosage of prednisolone or prednisone more than 120 mg/day has never been used. Eleven cases of PFL and four cases of PE were treated with uneventfully good results. Intercellular antibody titers became negative within 4.67 months except in refractory cases, however, the treatment was continued for at least 3 years. Herpes simplex superimposed infection was more common than herpes zoster infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)