Monitoring patients treated with efalizumab or alefacept.
Though alefacept and efalizumab do not have robust development for treating inflammatory disorders other than psoriasis, they provided important therapeutic options for patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Alefacept is administered in 12-week cycles and requires routine monitoring of CD4 lymphocyte counts as apoptosis of memory T cells is a hallmark of its mechanisms of action. In contrast, it is recommended to conduct monthly complete blood counts for patients on efalizumab during the first few months of therapy; efalizumab is intended for continuous long-term therapy. Alefacept works extremely well for a smaller cohort of patients. We cannot yet predetermine those who will respond through many cycles of alefacept. Efalizumab works extremely well for approximately 40% of subjects, and possibly more when retreatment options are considered. Most important for patients on either therapy is appropriate intermittent clinical evaluations to ensure stable, safe, and effective therapy.
Papp
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D000077944:Alefacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077944:Alefacept; C472181:efalizumab