The costs of peripheral blood progenitor cell reinfusion mobilised by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor following high dose melphalan as compared with conventional therapy in multiple myeloma

Eur J Cancer. 1994;30A(4):457-9. doi: 10.1016/0959-8049(94)90418-9.

Abstract

In a retrospective study, we calculated the treatment costs of 26 patients, who received either high dose melphalan combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim)(n = 7) or without G-CSF (n = 11) or alternatively, peripheral blood progenitor cell reinfusion (PBPC) mobilised by G-CSF following high dose melphalan. In comparison with the control group, a shortening of the pancytopenic period and platelet recovery was noticed in the PBPC group. This resulted in a reduction in hospital costs, diagnostics, laboratory services, total parenteral nutrition and transfusions. The average costs per treatment in the PBPC group amounted to about US$ 17,908 as compared to US$ 32,223 in the control group, implying a cost reduction of 44% when changing to PBPC reinfusion.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Transfusion, Autologous
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Granulocytes
  • Health Care Costs
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Hospital Costs
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Melphalan / administration & dosage*
  • Multiple Myeloma / economics
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • Platelet Count
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Melphalan