PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 681 - 29 Jun 2013

Angiogenesis factor tests mayreduce pre-eclampsia costs

A US study published in BJOG has shown thatmeasurement of the anti-angiogenic factor fms-liketyrosine kinase-1 and the pro-angiogenic factor placentagrowth factor in the blood of pregnant women correlateswell with the onset and progression of pre-eclampsia;when these measurements are used to inform pre-eclampsia evaluation and management, riskstratification improves and costs and resource use arepotentially reduced.

The study was a cost analysis with a budget impactmodel, comparing the use of the test results forevaluation with a standard evaluation approach usingprospectively-collected patient data. Costs werepresented in 2012 values and the cost of both tests wasfixed at $101.14. The testing approach improved theaccuracy of adverse outcome prediction, reducingaverage per-patient costs by a potential $1215. Asubstantial amount of resources (47.2% of antenataladmissions and 72.5% of foetal wellbeing tests) wereunnecessarily used in women negative for pre-eclampsia. Since a proportion of preterm deliveries innegative women were also avoidable, these representfurther potential savings, say the researchers.Schnettler W, et al. Cost and resource implications with serum angiogenic factorestimation in the triage of pre-eclampsia. BJOG: An International Journal ofObstetrics and Gynaecology : 7 May 2013. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.12259 803088850

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 29 Jun 2013 No. 6811173-5503/10/0681-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved