Abstract
This post-approval, open-label trial (n = 1266) assessed the efficacy of efalizumab, administered in accordance with the European label at that time, in patients with concomitant nail, scalp or palmoplantar psoriasis. Patients received subcutaneous efalizumab 1.0 mg/kg weekly for up to 20 weeks. By Week 12, an improvement from baseline of 50% or more was observed in 21.4% (181/844) of patients with nail psoriasis, 62.4% (718/1150) of patients with scalp psoriasis, and 51.4% (127/247) of patients with palmoplantar psoriasis. Quality of life improved throughout the trial, with a 50% median improvement in DLQI score after 12 weeks of treatment. Efalizumab showed promising efficacy in the treatment of nail, scalp and palmoplantar psoriasis, which was reflected in improvements in quality of life.
Highlights
Psoriasis frequently affects the nails, scalp, palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which can have disabling consequences and a considerable negative impact on a patient’s quality of life (QoL) [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Until early 2009 it was approved in Europe for the treatment of adults suffering from moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis
This study reports data from a large-scale, prospective post-approval trial, the first of its kind in psoriasis patients, which assessed the efficacy and safety of efalizumab therapy in patients treated according to the European label at that time
Summary
Psoriasis frequently affects the nails, scalp, palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which can have disabling consequences and a considerable negative impact on a patient’s quality of life (QoL) [1,2,3,4,5,6]. It can be very difficult to treat; in particular, the nails and scalp are not amenable to many topical psoriasis treatments or phototherapy because the nail plate or hair, respectively, prevent adequate contact with the affected tissue [2,5,6,7]. This study reports data from a large-scale, prospective post-approval trial, the first of its kind in psoriasis patients, which assessed the efficacy and safety of efalizumab therapy in patients treated according to the European label at that time. Reported findings from this trial indicated that efalizumab effectively controlled psoriasis in twothirds of patients within 12 weeks, and that this was maintained in over three-quarters of patients who continued to receive treatment for a total of 20 weeks [8]. In this article we present results from this trial for patient subgroups presenting with
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