title: A short cycle of narrow-band UVB phototherapy in the early phase of long-term efalizumab can provide a quicker remission of moderate and severe psoriasis: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efalizumab, albeit highly efficient in psoriasis treatment, displays a slower rate of clearance when compared to anti-tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha drugs. It has been suggested that a combination of treatments might accelerate efalizumab response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the combination of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy and efalizumab could improve the therapeutic efficacy of efalizumab alone in moderate to severe psoriasis. methods: Ten patients underwent a treatment cycle with a whole-body NB-UVB phototherapy (3 sessions a week) during the first 4 weeks of a 6-month treatment with efalizumab at 1 mg/kg body weight/week. In addition, one of two similar plaques, selected for each patient, was shielded during phototherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant reduction of the psoriasis severity index score was observed at 4 weeks in the irradiated plaque. A Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 was achieved by 70% of patients by week 12 as compared to 22-39% reported in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study indicates that the combination with NB-UVB improves the efficacy of efalizumab monotherapy in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia IT-25123, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zane
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capezzera
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Facchinetti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedretti
authors.forename: Piergiacomo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018845:CD11 Antigens; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018845:CD11 Antigens; C472181:efalizumab