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Raptiva medication is designed to treat psoriasis, a chronic disease that attacks the immune system. Psoriasis usually appears on the outside of the skin in thick, scaly, red patches and has been associated with several other serious conditions including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Roughly 30 percent of all patients with psoriasis will, at some point, develop psoriatic arthritis. This can cause pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints. Psoriatic arthritis typically develops in patients between the ages 30 and 50 and effects men at a higher rate than women.

Early treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are essential to relieve pain and progressive damage to the immune system and joints.

Psoriasis Treatment: Raptiva Medication

While there are several over-the-counter and prescription treatments designed to treat psoriasis, one treatment, in particular, has raised many concerns among members of the healthcare community. This treatment is Raptiva (generic name: Efalizumab) , which is injected into the bloodstream via needle. Raptiva medication, which was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, has been under recent scrutiny because it has been linked to serious injuries and deaths.

Psoriasis TreatmentSide Effects

Raptiva medication has been linked to several serious and potentially fatal infections, including:

• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and fatal brain infection
• Anemia, dangerously low red blood cell counts
• Thromboctopenia, dangerously low platelet counts
• Development or worsening of psoriatic arthritis
• Worsening or new forms of psoriasis

Of Raptiva’s potential side effects, PML is the most dangerous. In fact, the FDA issued a Raptiva warning, Feb. 19, 2009, alerting healthcare professionals and Raptiva users of three confirmed PML deaths in Raptiva users. In response to such links between Raptiva medication and PML, the psoriasis treatment was pulled off the European market in February 2009.

Have You Been Prescribed Raptiva?

If you or a loved one has been prescribed Raptiva as a treatment for psoriasis, you should discuss all your medical concerns with your doctor immediately, and should consider asking your doctor about alternative treatments. There are several other over-the-counter and prescription treatments to choose from.

What to do If You Have Been Injured by Raptiva

If you or a loved one has been injured by Raptiva or another psoriasis treatment, or if your loved one died following a Raptiva injection, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced defective drug attorney who will evaluate your case and fight aggressively to recover compensation for your losses. To schedule a free, private consultation with a Raptiva lawyer experienced in representing the injured and their families, please contact us today.

"Raptiva side effect PML"

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary Raptiva recall, April 8, 2009. The Psoriasis drug’s manufacturer, Genentech, announced the voluntary Raptiva recall and has begun phasing the drug off the U.S. market. R...

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