Transplanting HCV-infected kidneys in HCV-infected patients showed positive outcomes, costs

 

Transplanting a kidney infected with hepatitis C into individuals infected with HCV, followed by treatment, was more effective and less costly than transplanting an uninfected kidney, preceded by HCV treatment, according to Mark H. Eckman, MD, of the University of Cincinnati and his colleagues.

London_England/Thinkstock

The researchers based these conclusions on the results of a computer model developed using demographic data of men and women of various races indicated by the U. S. Renal Data System of HCV-infected patients receiving dialysis. These patients had an average age of 57.8 years and were wait-listed for kidneys from deceased donors. As part of the model, patients were assumed to be HCV treatment naive and to have waited for kidneys not infected with HCV for almost 2.6 years, as compared with roughly 2.1 years for those awaiting HCV-infected kidneys (these were based on actual wait times), according to the report published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Largely because of the longer wait times for uninfected kidneys, a typical patient aged 58 years on hemodialysis would gain an average of 0.5 quality-adjusted life-years at a lifetime cost savings of $41,591 dollars, according to the model.

“In an era of increasing success for kidney transplants and demand that far outstrips supply, deferring antiviral therapy until after transplant of HCV-infected kidneys, when available, should be both cost saving and effective,” the researchers wrote.

The study was funded by grants from Merck Sharpe & Dohme and the National Center for Advancing Translational Science. Several of the authors reported having grants from Merck and grants and personal fees from a variety of other pharmaceutical companies.

mlesney@frontlinemedcom.com

SOURCE: Eckman MH et al. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Jul 10. doi: 10.7326/M17-3088.

 

Transplanting a kidney infected with hepatitis C into individuals infected with HCV, followed by treatment, was more effective and less costly than transplanting an uninfected kidney, preceded by HCV treatment, according to Mark H. Eckman, MD, of the University of Cincinnati and his colleagues.

London_England/Thinkstock

The researchers based these conclusions on the results of a computer model developed using demographic data of men and women of various races indicated by the U. S. Renal Data System of HCV-infected patients receiving dialysis. These patients had an average age of 57.8 years and were wait-listed for kidneys from deceased donors. As part of the model, patients were assumed to be HCV treatment naive and to have waited for kidneys not infected with HCV for almost 2.6 years, as compared with roughly 2.1 years for those awaiting HCV-infected kidneys (these were based on actual wait times), according to the report published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Largely because of the longer wait times for uninfected kidneys, a typical patient aged 58 years on hemodialysis would gain an average of 0.5 quality-adjusted life-years at a lifetime cost savings of $41,591 dollars, according to the model.

“In an era of increasing success for kidney transplants and demand that far outstrips supply, deferring antiviral therapy until after transplant of HCV-infected kidneys, when available, should be both cost saving and effective,” the researchers wrote.

The study was funded by grants from Merck Sharpe & Dohme and the National Center for Advancing Translational Science. Several of the authors reported having grants from Merck and grants and personal fees from a variety of other pharmaceutical companies.

mlesney@frontlinemedcom.com

SOURCE: Eckman MH et al. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Jul 10. doi: 10.7326/M17-3088.

 

Transplanting a kidney infected with hepatitis C into individuals infected with HCV, followed by treatment, was more effective and less costly than transplanting an uninfected kidney, preceded by HCV treatment, according to Mark H. Eckman, MD, of the University of Cincinnati and his colleagues.

London_England/Thinkstock

The researchers based these conclusions on the results of a computer model developed using demographic data of men and women of various races indicated by the U. S. Renal Data System of HCV-infected patients receiving dialysis. These patients had an average age of 57.8 years and were wait-listed for kidneys from deceased donors. As part of the model, patients were assumed to be HCV treatment naive and to have waited for kidneys not infected with HCV for almost 2.6 years, as compared with roughly 2.1 years for those awaiting HCV-infected kidneys (these were based on actual wait times), according to the report published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Largely because of the longer wait times for uninfected kidneys, a typical patient aged 58 years on hemodialysis would gain an average of 0.5 quality-adjusted life-years at a lifetime cost savings of $41,591 dollars, according to the model.

“In an era of increasing success for kidney transplants and demand that far outstrips supply, deferring antiviral therapy until after transplant of HCV-infected kidneys, when available, should be both cost saving and effective,” the researchers wrote.

The study was funded by grants from Merck Sharpe & Dohme and the National Center for Advancing Translational Science. Several of the authors reported having grants from Merck and grants and personal fees from a variety of other pharmaceutical companies.

mlesney@frontlinemedcom.com

SOURCE: Eckman MH et al. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Jul 10. doi: 10.7326/M17-3088.