Cost-effectiveness analysis of the terlipressin-glycerin trinitrate combination in the pre-hospital management of acute gastro-intestinal haemorrhage in cirrhotic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cost-effectiveness of an early treatment of upper gastro-intestinal haemorrages in cirrhotic patients.


METHODS
Utilization data linked to the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrating the efficacy of the terlipressin-glycerin trinitrate combination (TER-GTN) in the reduction of mortality at day 42 for haemorragic patients due to rupture of oesophageal varices.


METHODS
Hôpital Jean Verdier, Bondy, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France.


METHODS
Eighty-four patients included over 2 years by emergency services and hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) for haemorrage, 41 in the "treated" group and 43 in the "placebo" group.


METHODS
Mortality at day 42, cost per death avoided.


RESULTS
The mortality rate in the placebo group was 46.5% versus 27.5% in the treated group. The mean length of stay was 5 days longer in the treatment group. The excess cost per death avoided was 25,849 FF. Of this extra cost 27% was due to treatment and 24% was due to increased length of stay. The excess cost per case treated was FF 5,097, 10% of the total cost per stay for rupture of oesophageal varices (ROV).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are of the same magnitude as those published by Mac Cormick et al. in the United Kingdom for similar treatment. The extra cost appears to be moderate, and much lower than monoclonal antibody therapy for sepsis. The impact on the study hospital budget did not exceed 1.7 10(-4).
Combier
E
E
Ecole Nationale de la Santé Publique, Groupe IMAGE-ENSP, Saint-Maurice, France.
Levacher
S
S
Letoumelin
P
P
Joseph
A
A
Pourriat
J L
JL
de Pouvourville
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008236:Lypressin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D000077585:Terlipressin
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008236:Lypressin; D000077585:Terlipressin; D005996:Nitroglycerin