Background: Concomitant hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) needs caution when selecting systemic treatments in psoriasis patients as some agents confer a risk of liver toxicity and/or are immunosuppressant. Phototherapy may provide a therapeutic choice but it is not always a practical option. Limited evidence supports the use of cyclosporine or TNF-alpha blockers. No data are available concerning the safety of efalizumab in patients with HCV infection. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of 5 adult patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis and concomitant HCV infection who were treated with efalizumab. Method: A retrospective clinical case report. Results: Five adult patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis and concomitant HCV infection were treated successfully using efalizumab with no increased viral replication and progression of liver disease for a follow-up of 8-20 months. Conclusion: Although further confirmation is needed, this report provides preliminary evidence to support also a cautious use of efalizumab in patients with HCV infection. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Treatment of psoriasis with efalizumab in patients with hepatitis C virus infection: report of five cases

GISONDI, Paolo;GIROLOMONI, Giampiero
2009-01-01

Abstract

Background: Concomitant hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) needs caution when selecting systemic treatments in psoriasis patients as some agents confer a risk of liver toxicity and/or are immunosuppressant. Phototherapy may provide a therapeutic choice but it is not always a practical option. Limited evidence supports the use of cyclosporine or TNF-alpha blockers. No data are available concerning the safety of efalizumab in patients with HCV infection. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of 5 adult patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis and concomitant HCV infection who were treated with efalizumab. Method: A retrospective clinical case report. Results: Five adult patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis and concomitant HCV infection were treated successfully using efalizumab with no increased viral replication and progression of liver disease for a follow-up of 8-20 months. Conclusion: Although further confirmation is needed, this report provides preliminary evidence to support also a cautious use of efalizumab in patients with HCV infection. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
psoriasis; efalizumab; hepatitis C
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/339240
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