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Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:1238-1240.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis by selective targeting of memory effector T lymphocytes
Ellis CN, Krueger GG, for the Alefacept Clinical Study Group
N Engl J Med. 2001;345:248-255

Alefacept (Amevive; Biogen Inc, Cambridge, Mass) is a fusion protein that binds to the CD2 receptor on lymphocytes, blocking its interaction with lymphocyte function–associated antigen-3 on antigen-presenting cells. Most lymphocytes in psoriatic lesions are memory effector (CD4⁺CD45RO⁺ and CD8⁺CD45RO⁺) T cells showing up-regulation of CD2 on their cell surface. By binding preferentially to these cells in psoriasis, alefacept may inhibit their activation and may reduce disease activity.

Ellis and Krueger present a double-blind study in which patients from 22 centers in the United States were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 different dosages of intravenous alefacept (0.025, 0.075, or 0.150 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo weekly for 12 weeks with follow-up for an additional 12 weeks. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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