Cost-effectiveness of interferon-alpha-2b treatment for hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B
Article Abstract:
Interferon-alpha-2b appears to be a cost-effective therapy for chronic hepatitis B. Researchers performed a meta-analysis based on data in nine published studies to project the clinical and economic results of interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis B. In a 35-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B and two viral markers of infection, interferon-alpha would increase his life expectancy by approximately three years and would decrease his lifetime treatment costs by nearly $7,000 compared with standard medical care. For every 1,000 patients treated with interferon therapy, the savings are estimated at $6.6 million and 3,100 years of life. Patients who took interferon-alpha had a lower lifetime risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer compared to those who received standard care.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Estimates of the cost-effectiveness of a single course of interferon-alpha2b in patients with histologically mild chronic hepatitis C
Article Abstract:
Treatment with interferon-alpha2b for patients with mild chronic hepatitis C may increase life expectancy and be cost effective, especially for younger individuals. A Markov simulation was used to project clinical and economical outcomes of a hypothetical group of patients with mild chronic hepatitis C when treated with recombinant interferon. Assuming that treatment is discontinued for those with no response in 12 weeks, 27% of those treated for the full 6 months had liver enzymes permanently normalized and tested negative for the virus. Life expectancy, if treated at age 20, increased by 3.1 years.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: