Efalizumab-induced guttate psoriasis. Successful management and re-treatment

J Dermatolog Treat. 2008;19(3):182-4. doi: 10.1080/09546630701691236.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, immunologically based inflammatory skin disease. Efalizumab (Raptiva) is a humanized monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody that binds with high specificity and affinity to the alpha subunit of leucocyte function-asssociated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on the surface of T cells. Therefore, efalizumab is an effective biologic therapy for the long-term treatment of chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. This drug demonstrated a good safety profile, whereas most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. During efalizumab treatment, a small percentage of patients experienced protocol-defined psoriasis adverse events (e.g. worsening of psoriasis or the onset of new psoriasis morphologies). We present the case of a patient who experienced a new onset of guttate psoriasis and a mild worsening of pre-existing psoriatic lesions during treatment with efalizumab. Restarting with the same drug did not induce any adverse events.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects*
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Male
  • Psoriasis / chemically induced*
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy
  • Psoriasis / pathology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunologic Factors
  • efalizumab