Klein-Gitelman MS, Waters T, Pachman LM. The economic impact of intermittent high-dose intravenous versus oral corticosteroid treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003;
13:360-8. [PMID:
14635311 DOI:
10.1002/1529-0131(200012)13:6<360::aid-art5>3.0.co;2-q]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To perform a cost-identification and cost-effectiveness analysis comparing oral corticosteroids (OCS) with high-dose intermittent intravenous corticosteroid (IVCS) regimens in the treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).
METHODS
Children previously diagnosed and treated for JDM (without myositis-specific or myositis-associated autoantibodies) at a single medical center by a single provider were identified. Two treatment protocols were compared: OCS and IVCS. Data on initial disease severity, time to remission, resource use, and costs generated were collected from patient records. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICE) were constructed.
RESULTS
Patients treated with IVCS achieved median remission 2 years earlier at median increased cost of $13,736. The ICE ratio comparing IVCS to OCS is $6,868 per year of disease avoided.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that, although IVCS treatments are costly, they are cost-effective.
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