This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (148)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related article  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Dermatologic Disorders  • Randomized Controlled Trial  • Psoriasis  • Dermatologic Procedures  • Immunotherapy  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Mark Lebwohl, MD; Enno Christophers, MD; Richard Langley, MD; Jean P. Ortonne, MD; Janet Roberts, MD; Christopher E. M. Griffiths, MD; for the Alefacept Clinical Study Group

Arch Dermatol. 2003;139:719-727.

Background  Alefacept, human lymphocyte function–associated antigen 3/immunoglobulin 1 fusion protein, binds to CD2 molecules on the surface of activated T cells, selectively targeting memory-effector (CD45RO⁺) T cells, which comprise more than 75% of T cells in psoriatic plaques.

Objective  To examine the efficacy and tolerability of intramuscular alefacept.

Design  International, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

Patients  A total of 507 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

Intervention  Placebo, 10 mg of alefacept, or 15 mg of alefacept administered once weekly for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks of observation.

Main Outcome Measure  Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI).

Results  Alefacept treatment was associated with dose-related significant improvements in PASI from baseline. Throughout the study, a greater percentage of patients in the 15-mg group than in the placebo group achieved a significant reduction in PASI. Of patients in the 15-mg group who achieved at least 75% PASI reduction 2 weeks after the last dose, 71% maintained at least 50% improvement in PASI throughout the 12-week follow-up. There were no opportunistic infections and no cases of disease rebound.

Conclusion  Intramuscular administration of alefacept was a well-tolerated and effective therapy for chronic plaque psoriasis and thus represents a convenient alternative to intravenous dosing.

From the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (Dr Lebwohl); Klinikum an der Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany (Dr Christophers); Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Dr Langley); Hôpital L'Archet II, Nice, France (Dr Ortonne); Northwest Cutaneous Research Specialists, Portland, Ore (Dr Roberts); Dermatology Centre, The University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Manchester, England (Dr Griffiths). A complete list of the members of the Alefacept Clinical Study Group appears below. The authors have served as investigators for Biogen. Dr Lebwohl is a consultant for Biogen.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

RELATED ARTICLE

Immunobiologic Agents for the Treatment of Psoriasis: Clinical Research Delivers New Hope for Patients With Psoriasis
Alice Gottlieb
Arch Dermatol. 2003;139(6):791-793.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Alefacept for Severe Alopecia Areata: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Strober et al.
Arch Dermatol 2009;145:1262-1266.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reply to Brynedal et al.: Accumulating genetic and functional evidence for a role of CD58 in multiple sclerosis
De Jager
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:E59-E59.
FULL TEXT  

The role of the CD58 locus in multiple sclerosis
De Jager et al.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:5264-5269.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Efficacy and Safety of Chaperonin 10 in Patients With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Evidence of Utility Beyond a Single Indication
Williams et al.
Arch Dermatol 2008;144:683-685.
FULL TEXT  

Safety and Efficacy of ABT-874, a Fully Human Interleukin 12/23 Monoclonal Antibody, in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial
Kimball et al.
Arch Dermatol 2008;144:200-207.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Use of Biological Agents in Patients With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: A Cohort-Based Perspective
Jones-Caballero et al.
Arch Dermatol 2007;143:846-850.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Human Interleukin-12/23 Monoclonal Antibody for the Treatment of Psoriasis
Krueger et al.
NEJM 2007;356:580-592.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

AMEVIVE's Advertisements: Problematic?
Katz
Arch Dermatol 2005;141:1602-1604.
FULL TEXT  

Alefacept for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Gottlieb
Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:iv58-iv60.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psoriatic arthritis treatment: biological response modifiers
Mease and Antoni
Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:ii78-ii82.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psoriasis treatment: current and emerging directed therapies
Winterfield et al.
Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:ii87-ii90.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Alefacept reduces infiltrating T cells, activated dendritic cells, and inflammatory genes in psoriasis vulgaris
Chamian et al.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2005;102:2075-2080.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psoriasis and the new biologic agents: interrupting a T-AP dance
Walsh and Shear
CMAJ 2004;170:1933-1941.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Appropriate Use of Alefacept Therapy for Psoriasis--Reply
Whitmore
Arch Dermatol 2004;140:239-240.
FULL TEXT  

A Promising Step Forward in Psoriasis Therapy
Stern
JAMA 2003;290:3133-3135.
FULL TEXT  

Immunobiologic Agents for the Treatment of Psoriasis: Clinical Research Delivers New Hope for Patients With Psoriasis
Gottlieb
Arch Dermatol 2003;139:791-793.
FULL TEXT