title: The cost of treating immune thrombocytopenic purpura using intravenous Rh immune globulin versus intravenous immune globulin.
abstract: Multiple factors, including efficacy, toxicity and cost, may influence the decision to treat immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) or intravenous Rho (D) immune globulin (IV RhIG). We conducted a survey of 50 hospitals in 31 states to determine the costs for treating ITP using conventional doses for IVIG or IV RhIG, based on package insert recommendations. The average cost for a dose of IVIG ($2,771) was 71.7% ($1,157) more than that for a dose of IV RhIG ($1,614). In the absence of clearly defined differences in clinical outcomes when treating ITP with IVIG or IV RhIG, the difference in cost may be an important factor in selecting the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. sandlerg@gunet.georgetown.edu
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roland
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D016527:Drug Costs; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011994:Recombinant Proteins