Further to my last mail on this subject. Looks like I was wrong- NICE
guidelines out now: 'For high-risk patients with unstable angina or
non-Q-wave MI, the use of intravenous GP IIb/ IIIa inihibitors is
recommended.' 'Raised level of troponin should be used to identify those at
high risk' 'Average cost is £840 for abciximab, £440 for tirofiban' 'cost
effectiveness (per death/ MI prevented at 30 days) is up to £30,000. For
patients with raised troponins this improves to £ 5,000' 'This represents a
net additional cost of £14.5 to £16 million' (I think this is about 0.1% of
each hospital's total turnover, but please correct me if I've got it wrong-
misplaced a zero or something). Guess most of us will have to change policy.
Apologies if this information has already been posted/ reached you by other
routes.
-----Original Message-----
From: John ONeill
The American Heart Association /American College of Cardiology has brought
out guidelines on the use of G IIb IIIA inhibitors for non ST segment
elevation acute coronary syndromes. If taken on board in UK emergency
departments it will certainly raise our drugs bill. Is any department on
the list already using them ?
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