Efalizumab thrombocytopenia

Hematologic In post-marketing surveillance, isolated cases of severe hemolytic anemia have been reported during treatment with efalizumab. Thrombocytopenia can occur [222, 223 ] and thrombocytosis has also been attributed to efalizumab [224 ]. 

Efalizumab is administered weekly by subcutaneous injections to treat psoriasis, where a steady state is reached after 4 weeks. Its side effects include serious infections, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia and the probability of malignancies due to its immunosuppressive effects. Other common side effects produced by efalizumab within 2 weeks of administration are nausea, fever, chills and headache. Furthermore, it can produce symptoms associated with hypersensitivity reaction. 

Warkentin TE (2007) Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Hematol Oncol Clin N Am 21 589-607 Warkentin TE, Kwon P (2005) Immune thrombocytopenia associated with efalizumab therapy for... 

Efalizumab GDI la Psoriasis Infection, thrombocytopenia, hypersensitivity, infusion reactions... 

Hematologic Reversible, sometimes severe, drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a recognized adverse drug reaction in patients with psoriasis treated with efalizumab. In one case two episodes of reversible thrombocytopenia occurred during efalizumab therapy, the first 5 months after introduction of the medication and the second 4 months after re-introduction for relapsing psoriasis [126 ]. 

Kiorpelidou D, Tsiouri G, Gaitanis G, Akritidis N, Bassukas ID. Efalizumab-induced thrombocytopenia report of relapse after re-administration. Clin Exp Dermatol 2009 34(8) e914-6. 

Prignano F, Zanieri F, Mokhtarzadeh S, Lotti T. Efalizumab-induced severe thrombocytopenia can be resolved. Biologies 2008 2(4) 923-7. 

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