title: Treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis in the United States. A pharmacoeconomic analysis.
abstract: This study attempted to determine the cost-effectiveness of therapies for dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis in the United States in 2001. The antimycotic agents evaluated were ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer and the oral agents terbinafine, itraconazole (pulse), itraconazole (continuous), fluconazole, and griseofulvin. A treatment algorithm for the management of onychomycosis was developed, and a meta-analysis was carried out to determine the average mycologic and clinical response rates for the various agents. The cost of the regimen was figured as the sum of the costs of drug acquisition, medical management, and management of adverse effects. The expected cost of management and disease-free days were determined, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted. It was concluded that ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer, which has recently become available in the larger size of 6.6 mL, is a cost-effective agent for the management of toenail onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center (Sunnybrook campus) and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Aditya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077768:Ciclopirox; D016527:Drug Costs; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D006118:Griseofulvin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D011728:Pyridones / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011728:Pyridones; D000077768:Ciclopirox; D017964:Itraconazole; D006118:Griseofulvin; D000077291:Terbinafine