Table 9.
Amevive (alefacept) [26, 29, 30, 31]
Initial Visit:
History and Physical
· History of malignancy or serious infections (hepatitis, TB, HIV, other)?
· Total body skin exam for skin cancer
· Check for HSM, cervical/axillary/inguinal lymphadenopathy
· Medications: other immunosuppressive agents
· Live vaccine within past month – you or household member?
· Major surgery in next month?
· Active infection? Hold dose for infection or sepsis
· History of cirrhosis or active hepatitis or other liver disease?
Labs
· Baseline CBC, CMP
· Baseline CD4 count; hold for < 250 cells/uL
· TB test (for PPD, consider >5mm as positive)
· Hepatitis B screen: Hepatitis B sAg, Hepatitis B sAb, Hepatitis B cAb
· Hepatitis C ELISA screen
· Influenza vaccine (if flu season)
· HIV (optional) – especially with erythrodermic psoriasis
· Cardiovascular risk panel: CRP, homocysteine, HbA1C (if screening for psoriasis) (optional)
· Pneumovax (optional)
Counseling/Other
· Injections under supervision of health care professional
· Can worsen existing malignancies
· Malignancy: non-melanoma skin cancer, lymphomas, melanoma, solid organ malignancies
· Risk of hepatotoxicity and liver failure
· Risk of new or worsening bacterial and viral infections, including HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis
· Injection site reaction and angioedema
· Avoid live vaccines – self and household members
· While the package insert states to avoid phototherapy, phototherapy is used routinely with alefacept29-31.
Follow-up Visit:
History and Physical
· Every six months: Total body skin exam for skin cancer
· Every six months: Check for HSM, cervical/axillary/inguinal lymphadenopathy
· Any new infection – hold dose for active infection or sepsis
· Major surgery in next month?
· Is there sustained clinical efficacy as measured by 2 weeks after the 12th dose?
· Other interval history
Labs
· Prior to every other injection: CBC, CD4; hold for < 250 cells/uL (then check weekly; discontinue alefacept if CD4 < 250 cells/uL for one month)
· Monthly to one month after last injection: CMP
· Every year: TB test (consider induration of >5mm as positive)
· Influenza vaccine annually (in flu season)
· In HBV carriers, check liver panel for laboratory signs of hepatitis B reactivation
Other
· Any live vaccines in past month?
· Any household members getting live vaccine?