Hematopoietic Stem Cell Support in Patients With Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorders

Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorders are believed to be due to immune cells, cells that
normally protect the body and are now causing damage to the body. This study is designed to
examine whether treating patients with high dose cyclophosphamide (a drug which reduces the
function of the immune system) together with anti-thymocyte globulin (a protein that kills
the immune cells that are thought to be causing your disease), followed by return of the
previously collected special blood cells (stem cells) will result in improvement of this
disease. Stem cells are undeveloped cells that have the capacity to grow into mature blood
cells, which normally circulate in the blood stream. The purpose of the intense chemotherapy
is to destroy the cells in the immune system which may be causing this skin disease. The
purpose of the stem cell infusion is to restore the body's blood production, which will be
severely impaired by the high dose chemotherapy and anti-thymocyte globulin.