title: Treatment of psoriasis with alefacept in patients with hepatitis C infection: a report of two cases.
abstract: Alefacept is a fully human fusion protein for use in adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Its dual mechanism of action involves inhibition of T-cell activation and selective reduction of memory T cells. We report the clinical course of two patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have received alefacept for psoriasis. Consistent with its mechanism of action, administration of alefacept led to transient decreases in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts. However, these reductions were not associated with an increase in HCV viral load or exacerbation of infection. Liver enzymes remained stable throughout the treatment and follow-up periods. Alefacept has a selective mechanism of action that specifically targets memory T cells and this selectivity may account for its safety and tolerability in patients with hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thaçi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pätzold
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: W-H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Boehncke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000077944:Alefacept; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077944:Alefacept