title: European network for the case-population surveillance of rare diseases (Euronet). A prospective feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Euronet, a case-population surveillance scheme, aims to estimate the risk of certain rare conditions which are commonly iatrogenic, by comparing drug use amongst non-selective cases with overall drug use in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The method is based on three provisos: (1) all incident cases (irrespective of suspected aetiology) should be ascertained and studied; (2) a full drug history should be obtained from cases by direct interview; and (3) drug-use data for the products of interest should be available for this population from which cases are chosen. The feasibility of this problem-oriented approach for the identification of new signals of adverse drug reactions and for risk estimation will be tested in relation to agranulocytosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in four defined areas in Europe, totalling 19 x 10(6) inhabitants, with these latest two outcomes being studied in only three regions. The design, methods and main limitations of this case-population surveillance approach are described.
authors.affiliation: Institut Català de Farmacologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CSU Vall d'Hebron, Spain. jrl@icf.uab.es
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capellà
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Laporte
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Wiholm
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bégaud
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Langman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rawlings
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005060:Europe; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology