Is antenatal screening for hepatitis C virus cost-effective? A decade's experience at a London centre.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of a routine universal antenatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening programme at a London centre. METHODS: Ten years' retrospective antenatal screening and outcome data informed a cost-effectiveness analysis using the previously validated MONARCH model. The cost and quality of life outcomes associated with the screening and treatment of newly identified hepatitis C cases were used to generate cost-effectiveness estimates for the screening programme. RESULTS: A total of 35,355 women were screened between 1st November 2003 and 1st March 2013; 136 women (0.38%) were found to be HCV antibody positive. Of 78 (0.22%) viraemic cases, 44 (0.12%) were newly diagnosed. In addition, the screening programme identified three (6.8%) vertical transmissions in children of newly diagnosed mothers. Of 16 newly diagnosed mothers biopsied, all were in the F0-F2 METAVIR disease stages, and 50% had HCV genotype 1. Postnatal treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin was initiated in 19 women, with 14 (74%) achieving sustained virologic response. The total cost of screening and confirmation of diagnoses was estimated to be £240,641. This translates to £5469 per newly diagnosed individual. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of this screening and treatment strategy was £2400 per QALY gained. Treatment with newer direct-acting antiviral regimens would have a projected cost of £9139 per QALY gained, well below the £20,000-30,000/QALY gained willingness-to-pay threshold applied by policy advisory bodies. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that an antenatal screening and treatment programme is feasible and effective, at a cost considered acceptable.

Beneficial effect of intra-operative methylprednisolone on immediate post liver transplant intensive care course.

BACKGROUND: Concern about the effect of corticosteroids on outcomes following liver transplantation (LT), especially in recipients with hepatitis C infection (HCV) has lead many centres to abandon the use of perioperative steroids. Avoidance of corticosteroids in immunosuppressive regimens may have beneficial effects in terms of reducing the incidence of infection, new onset diabetes mellitus and HCV recurrence however perioperative use may have beneficial effects such as attenuation of ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IR) and treatment of underlying adrenal insufficiency (AI). Due to a high prevalence of adrenal insufficiency in patients on our waiting list for LT, we reintroduced the use of intraoperative methyl-prednisolone and hypothesised that this would improve early post operative outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 90 consecutive patients were studied, 45 before (group 1) and 45 (group 2) after the protocolised reintroduction of methylprednisolone (1g IV) intraoperatively prior to reperfusion. Peri- and post-transplant requirements for colloid, crystalloid, blood products, vasopressors, renal replacement therapy and ventilation were compared between groups. No other changes to the transplant protocol occurred during the study period. RESULTS: Patients who received intraoperative methlyprednisolone had significantly shorter post operative ITU stay, vasopressor and colloid requirement post LT, and were dependent on mechanical ventilation for less time. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the use of intraoperative methylprednisolone can modify the immediate post transplant course of LT, either by attenuating reperfusion induced inflammation, or by addressing hitherto unrecognized adrenal insufficiency.