Raptiva (efalizumab) is a drug that is used to treat adults who suffer from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.   On February 19, 2009, the FDA issued a public health advisory regarding the use of Raptiva and a rare, but serious and progressive neurologic disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

PML generally affects people who have a weakened immune system and often results in an irreversible decline in neurologic function and death.   Raptiva suppresses a patient’s T-Cells in order to treat the plaque psoriasis, which decreases the function of the immune system.   There is no known treatment for PML.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a brain infection, is caused by a virus called the JC Virus, which is carried by about 85% of the population and harmless to those who do not have a weakened immune system.   The virus remains inactive in healthy people, but when their immune system is compromised, a patient’s myelin, the substance that helps protect the central nervous system white matter, breaks down.

PML is a disease similar to Multiple Sclerosis, but it progresses much more quickly.   Some of the symptoms of PML include weakness or paralysis, vision loss (especially blindness in half of the visual field of each eye), impaired speech and cognitive deterioration.

The FDA states that since the approval of Raptiva (efalizumab) in October 2003, the FDA has received reports of three confirmed cases and one possible case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients who were 47 to 73 years of age who were using Raptiva for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.   Two of the patients with confirmed PML and one patient with possible PML died.   All four patients were treated with Raptiva continuously for more than three years.   None of the patients were received other treatments that suppress the immune system while taking Raptiva. 

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Davis & Crump now handling claims for PML, Lymphoma, Thrombocytopenia and brain or blood infections. If you or a loved one have been injured by Raptiva, contact us at 1-800-277-0300 or send us an email at info@daviscrump.com.