EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR THE CASE-POPULATION SURVEILLANCE OF RARE DISEASES (EURONET) - A PROSPECTIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY

Objective: Euronet, a case-population surveillance scheme, aims to est imate the risk of certain rare conditions which are commonly iatrogeni c, by comparing drug use amongst non-selective cases with overall drug use in the general population. Methods: The method is based on three provisos: (1) all incident cases (irrespective of suspected aetiology) should be ascertained and studied; (2) a full drug history should be obtained from cases by direct interview; and (3) drug-use data for the products of interest should be available for this population from whi ch cases are chosen. The feasibility of this problem-oriented approach for the identification of new signals of adverse drug reactions and f or risk estimation will be tested in relation to agranulocytosis, Stev ens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in four defined ar eas in Europe, totalling 19 x 10(6) inhabitants, with these latest two outcomes being studied in only three regions. The design, methods and main limitations of this case-population surveillance approach are de scribed.