A multicenter, open-label study of repeat courses of intramuscular alefacept in combination with other psoriasis therapies in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of multiple courses of alefacept in combination with traditional psoriasis therapy for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP).


METHODS
Patients with CPP requiring systemic therapy were eligible for this study. Patients received up to three courses of intramuscular alefacept 15 mg once weekly for 12 weeks. One concomitant psoriasis therapy (topical agents, methotrexate, cyclosporine, systemic retinoids, or ultraviolet B [UVB]) per course was allowed. The extent of disease was determined using the 7-point Physician Global Assessment (PGA; scale ranging from 0 = clear to 6 = severe).


RESULTS
More than 73% of patients improved by > or = one PGA category and > or = 44% of patients improved by > or = two PGA categories across all concomitant treatments. Clinical responses tended to be greatest in patients who received alefacept plus UVB. The incidences of serious infections (< or =1%) and malignancies (< or =2%) were low across all courses and all combinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple courses of alefacept appear to be well tolerated and demonstrate efficacy in patients with CPP when administered with other psoriasis therapies.
Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2409, USA. krueger@derm.med.utah.edu
Gerald G
GG
Krueger
Alice B
AB
Gottlieb
Wolfram
W
Sterry
Neil
N
Korman
Peter
P
Van De Kerkhof
D000328:Adult; D000077944:Alefacept; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007239:Infections / Q000139:chemically induced; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012176:Retinoids; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000077944:Alefacept; D008727:Methotrexate