Alefacept in the treatment of recalcitrant palmoplantar and erythrodermic psoriasis

Abstract

Alefacept is the first biologic agent approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Prior clinical studies excluded patients with palmoplantar psoriasis or erythroderma. We report 2 patients with recalcitrant psoriasis who responded completely to a full course of alefacept. One patient presented with severe palmoplantar psoriasis recalcitrant to acitretin and methotrexate; another patient presented with erythroderma and was transitioned successfully from cyclosporine A. Alefacept provides another treatment option for palmoplantar and erythrodermic psoriasis and should be considered in the management of patients with these conditions.