Pemphigus is a disease associated with a high death rate if untreated and a high morbidity rate when treated with corticosteroids administered systemically for a prolonged period. Parenterally administered gold sodium thiomalate was evaluated in 18 patients as an alternate means of therapy. Fourteen of these patients (three of whom had never received systemic corticosteroids for this condition) have been successfully managed for variable periods with this drug.