Cost comparison of psoriasis treatments.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of the cost of various psoriasis therapeutic options is essential to the prescribing clinician.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the cost of various psoriasis treatments over a 10-year period in the province of Ontario, Canada.


METHODS
We used a hypothetical patient with plaque-type psoriasis of moderate severity with a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index of 10, body surface area of 20%, and no joint involvement. The costs to treat this hypothetical patient with different therapeutic regimens were compared in this study.


RESULTS
In a 60 kg patient, alefacept was the most costly form of therapy, based on two 12-week treatments per year, followed by infliximab 5 mg/kg. In a 90 kg patient, infliximab 5 mg/kg was the most costly, followed by alefacept. The least costly treatment was ultraviolet B phototherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
With the knowledge of these data, informed prescribing by the dermatologist may reduce the financial burden to the patient, the provincial health care system, and insurance companies.
Mikhael
Dalia
D
Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. dalia_mikhael@yahoo.com
Babcock
Kelly
K
DesGroseilliers
Jean-Pierre
JP
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics; D009864:Ontario; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000191:economics*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents