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Subcutaneous vs intravenous administration of immunoglobulin in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: an Italian cost-minimization analysis

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Abstract

Prior researches have suggested that home-based subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) is equally effective and can be less expensive than hospital-based intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) patients. This economic evaluation aims at comparing costs of SCIG vs IVIG for CIDP patients in Italy. A 1-year model-based cost-minimization analysis basically populated via neurologists’ opinion was undertaken from a societal perspective. Health care resources included immunoglobulin; drugs for premedication and complications (rash, headache, and hypertension) management; time of various health care professionals; pump for SCIG self-administration; infusion disposables. Non-health care resources encompassed transport and parking; losses of working and leisure time for patients and caregivers. Unit or yearly costs for resources valuation were mainly obtained from published sources. Costs were expressed in Euro (€) 2013. An extensive one-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) and a scenario SA tested the robustness of the base case findings. Overall costs per patient amount to €49,534.75 (SCIG) and €50,895.73 (IVIG); saving in favour of SCIG reaches €1360.98. For both SCIG and IVIG, the cost driver was immunoglobulin (94.06 vs 86.06 % of the overall costs, respectively). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the consistency of the baseline results. SCIG may be a cost-saving therapy for Italian CIDP patients.

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Acknowledgments

CL received an unrestricted research grant from CSL Behring for performing the cost-minimization analysis of this study, which was conducted in an independent way.

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Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Studio di Economia Sanitaria, Via Stefanardo da Vimercate, 19, 20128, Milan, Italy

    Carlo Lazzaro

  2. UOA Neurologia 2, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Leonardo Lopiano & Dario Cocito

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  1. Carlo Lazzaro
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  2. Leonardo Lopiano
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  3. Dario Cocito
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Correspondence to Carlo Lazzaro.

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Lazzaro, C., Lopiano, L. & Cocito, D. Subcutaneous vs intravenous administration of immunoglobulin in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: an Italian cost-minimization analysis. Neurol Sci 35, 1023–1034 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1632-9

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