Springfield, ILKristina says she took only one dose of Raptiva before being rushed to the emergency room 24 hours later. "They suspected meningitis," says Kristina, "then one of the doctors at the hospital did some research and told me there were 2 other reported cases of meningitis associated with Raptiva."
Raptiva, also known as efalizumab, is sold by Swiss drugmaker Genetech, Inc. to treat the skin disease psoriasis. It acts as an immunosuppresant which may increase the risk of serious infections and malignancies. Since its approval, the FDA has received reports of Raptiva side effects including bacterial sepsis, viral meningitis, invasive fungal disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and other serious infections.
In Kristina's case, she was prescribed Raptiva for psoriasis and wound up with viral meningitis.
"I've had migraines before but nothing like this time," says Kristina. "I was also very nauseated; my husband was so worried he drove me to ER." Kristina had a spinal tap and a CAT Scan and blood cells were found in her spinal fluid. The tests found a significantly high amount of white blood cells, which is a sign of meningitis.
"When my doctor prescribed Raptiva, he told me about the side effects—that I could possibly have a headache and feel sick, basically flu symptoms--but nothing serious and certainly not meningitis," says Kristina.
After the spinal tap and CAT Scan, Kristina was admitted to a private room for 48 hours so they could run tests for bacterial and viral meningitis. She was given antibiotics for bacterial meningitis, but there was no way to pinpoint at that time what she had. "During those two days I had numerous neurological tests and then they sent me home after it was determined that I did not have bacterial meningitis," says Kristina, "but viral meningitis had not yet been ruled out."
During that time, one doctor she saw (and there were many) told her about Raptiva and its association with meningitis, but she doesn't remember much else.
"To be honest, I wasn't sure what was going on, I was really drugged up," Kristina explains. "My husband and my mum were by my side the entire time and they were scared. I was only home for two days when my mum called my family doctor because I wasn't getting any better. I was admitted to the hospital again for 24 hours without any drugs—no migraine meds, no nothing. They wanted to determine if I was having an allergic reaction to a drug.
After 24 hours, the neurologist said I could go home. At the same time, a few other doctors wanted me to have a psychiatric evaluation, just in case I was making this up, that the pain was all 'in my head'. Which it was, literally!
I was really frustrated. All I had was an appointment to follow up with the neurologist two months later. This is what I believe: the doctors thought I was making this up because they had never heard of Raptiva (except for that one doctor). And I think the doctors were frustrated because they couldn't help me.
I was released from hospital in September 2007 with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis/migraine, so nothing was really determined. All I know is that I will never take Raptiva again.
About 6 months later I was researching Raptiva online: I remembered that the labeling on the Raptiva box listed headaches and nausea as side effects so I assumed I was having a bad reaction to the drug. That is when I noticed on the company's website a warning of possible meningitis side effects and that a few cases had been reported. I know for certain that meningitis was not mentioned on the box or the attached booklet when I was prescribed this drug."