Extended Alefacept Treatment for Psoriasis
Title: An extended 16-week course of alefacept
in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis.
Authors: Gribetz CH, et al.
Publication: J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jul;53(1):73-5.
The efficacy and safety of alefacept in one or two courses (12
weeks each) have been demonstrated in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials.
The authors wanted to see compare this with an extended course
of 16 weeks alefacept treatment.
To do this, the authors enrolled 20 patients with chronic plaque
psoriasis and divided them into 2 groups (12-week and 16-week).
They evaluated the treatment progress using PASI (Psoriasis Area
and Severity Index) by comparing before and after treatment (with
a follow up at week 24).
In both the 12-week and 16-week groups, 60% achieved PASI 50
(reduction of psoriasis severity by half according to PASI scores)
any time between weeks 12 and 24. The mean percentage change in
PASI from week 12 to week 24 was higher for the those who received
alefacept for 16 weeks as compared to those who only received
12 weeks of it.
The authors noted that adverse side effects were similar between
the 12-week and 16-week groups. They concluded that in this open-label,
single-center study of 20 patients, extending the dose of alefacept
to 16 weeks had further benefits with a similar safety profile
to 12-week dose.
