Alefacept (Amevive) With or Without Narrowband UVB Treatment in Patients With Psoriasis.

Alefacept is a new anti-psoriatic drug within the group of the so-called biologics. In about 30% of patients alefacept induces a more than 75% improvement of psoriasis after a 12-week treatment period. The start of anti-psoriatic effect by alefacept is delayed, however improvement of psoriatic lesions outlasts the end of alefacept treatment. Narrowband UVB (UVB-311nm) phototherapy is an established anti-psoriatic treatment regimen with rapid onset of anti-psoriatic efficacy but disease-free intervals after the end of successful treatment courses may be short. Therefore, in this half-side (left/right side) comparison study we aim to investigate whether an additional narrowband UVB treatment accelerates and improves the anti-psoriatic treatment effects of alefacept.