title: Treatment of psoriasis with efalizumab in patients with hepatitis C viral infection: report of five cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concomitant hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) needs caution when selecting systemic treatments in psoriasis patients as some agents confer a risk of liver toxicity and/or are immunosuppressant. Phototherapy may provide a therapeutic choice but it is not always a practical option. Limited evidence supports the use of cyclosporine or TNF-alpha blockers. No data are available concerning the safety of efalizumab in patients with HCV infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of 5 adult patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis and concomitant HCV infection who were treated with efalizumab.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective clinical case report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five adult patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis and concomitant HCV infection were treated successfully using efalizumab with no increased viral replication and progression of liver disease for a follow-up of 8-20 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although further confirmation is needed, this report provides preliminary evidence to support also a cautious use of efalizumab in patients with HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. paolo.gisondi@univr.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gisondi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prignano
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Torello
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girolomoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C472181:efalizumab