Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil

Introduction: Direct costs for treating Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) represent a significant financial burden to public hospitals. Few studies compared the cost of plasma exchange (PE) treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Objectives: To compare the cost of two therapies for GBS...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alexandre Paulo Machado de Brito, Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira, Paola Panazzolo Maciel, Leila Beltrami Moreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre ; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) 2011-10-01
Series:Clinical and Biomedical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/19110
_version_ 1818504554244734976
author Alexandre Paulo Machado de Brito
Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira
Paola Panazzolo Maciel
Leila Beltrami Moreira
author_facet Alexandre Paulo Machado de Brito
Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira
Paola Panazzolo Maciel
Leila Beltrami Moreira
author_sort Alexandre Paulo Machado de Brito
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Direct costs for treating Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) represent a significant financial burden to public hospitals. Few studies compared the cost of plasma exchange (PE) treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Objectives: To compare the cost of two therapies for GBS: IVIg and PE. Secondary objective was to evaluate compliance to IVIg prescription guidelines of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC). Methods: A cross-sectional study included 25 patients with GBS admitted in a university affiliated hospital from June, 2003 through June, 2008. The costs of IVIg (n=20) and PE (n=5) were evaluated through the cost minimization method, considering direct medical costs yield by the management of the institution. Patients receiving treatments other than PE or IVIg were excluded. Data were collected by medical records review. Clinical endpoint was disability on discharge, established by the 7-point scale of Hughes. Compliance to the PTC guidelines was evaluated considering the dose and prescription regime of IVIg. Results: Twenty-five participants, ranging from 2 to 70 years of age, were included. No difference occurred in any medical variables related to the treatment or in the main clinical outcome measured by the Hughes’ scale. The mean direct cost of PE treatment was US$ 6,059± 1,701 per patient, and the same expense for IVIg was US$ 18,344±12,259 (P = 0.035). Total inpatient cost was US$ 25,730± 18,714 in the PE group, and 34,768± 27,766 (p=0.530) in the IVIg group. Conclusions: In a university-based hospital, PE is equally effective and less expensive than IVIg to treat GBS.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T21:38:37Z
format Article
id doaj.art-13ade756661e47b881dc76d2358759b9
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2357-9730
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T21:38:37Z
publishDate 2011-10-01
publisher Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre ; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
record_format Article
series Clinical and Biomedical Research
spelling doaj.art-13ade756661e47b881dc76d2358759b92022-12-22T01:32:34ZengHospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre ; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Clinical and Biomedical Research2357-97302011-10-0131312682Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of BrazilAlexandre Paulo Machado de Brito0Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira1Paola Panazzolo Maciel2Leila Beltrami Moreira3Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia:Gestão de Tecnologia em Saúde; Mestrado ProfissionalHospital de Clínicas de Porto AlegreHospital de Clínicas de Porto AlegreUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre Introduction: Direct costs for treating Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) represent a significant financial burden to public hospitals. Few studies compared the cost of plasma exchange (PE) treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Objectives: To compare the cost of two therapies for GBS: IVIg and PE. Secondary objective was to evaluate compliance to IVIg prescription guidelines of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC). Methods: A cross-sectional study included 25 patients with GBS admitted in a university affiliated hospital from June, 2003 through June, 2008. The costs of IVIg (n=20) and PE (n=5) were evaluated through the cost minimization method, considering direct medical costs yield by the management of the institution. Patients receiving treatments other than PE or IVIg were excluded. Data were collected by medical records review. Clinical endpoint was disability on discharge, established by the 7-point scale of Hughes. Compliance to the PTC guidelines was evaluated considering the dose and prescription regime of IVIg. Results: Twenty-five participants, ranging from 2 to 70 years of age, were included. No difference occurred in any medical variables related to the treatment or in the main clinical outcome measured by the Hughes’ scale. The mean direct cost of PE treatment was US$ 6,059± 1,701 per patient, and the same expense for IVIg was US$ 18,344±12,259 (P = 0.035). Total inpatient cost was US$ 25,730± 18,714 in the PE group, and 34,768± 27,766 (p=0.530) in the IVIg group. Conclusions: In a university-based hospital, PE is equally effective and less expensive than IVIg to treat GBS. https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/19110Síndrome de Guillain-Barré
spellingShingle Alexandre Paulo Machado de Brito
Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira
Paola Panazzolo Maciel
Leila Beltrami Moreira
Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil
Clinical and Biomedical Research
Síndrome de Guillain-Barré
title Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil
title_full Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil
title_fullStr Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil
title_short Economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a university-based hospital in the South of Brazil
title_sort economic analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapies for the treatment of guillain barre syndrome in a university based hospital in the south of brazil
topic Síndrome de Guillain-Barré
url https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/19110
work_keys_str_mv AT alexandrepaulomachadodebrito economicanalysisofintravenousimmunoglobulinandplasmaexchangetherapiesforthetreatmentofguillainbarresyndromeinauniversitybasedhospitalinthesouthofbrazil
AT mariaangelicapiresferreira economicanalysisofintravenousimmunoglobulinandplasmaexchangetherapiesforthetreatmentofguillainbarresyndromeinauniversitybasedhospitalinthesouthofbrazil
AT paolapanazzolomaciel economicanalysisofintravenousimmunoglobulinandplasmaexchangetherapiesforthetreatmentofguillainbarresyndromeinauniversitybasedhospitalinthesouthofbrazil
AT leilabeltramimoreira economicanalysisofintravenousimmunoglobulinandplasmaexchangetherapiesforthetreatmentofguillainbarresyndromeinauniversitybasedhospitalinthesouthofbrazil