A COST-ANALYSIS OF ALPROSTADIL IN LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Alprostadil (prostaglandin E(1)) administration to liver transplant re cipients has been shown to result in a significant reduction in the du ration of hospital admission for transplantation, and in the need for re-operations (other than re-transplants) and renal support. To study the economic impact of this finding, we examined data from a controlle d trial for all single-transplant surviving patients (42 alprostadil, 49 controls) for whom complete billing records were available for tran splant days -2 to +150. All costs were measured in 1992 US dollars. Pa tients given alprostadil had lower total charges [mean +/- standard de viation (SD) $US175 297 +/- $US70 652] than patients given placebo (me an +/- SD $US225 672 +/- $US187 208) [p = 0.043]. The data suggest tha t the use of alprostadil may have a significant favourable impact on t he cost of liver transplantation.