RT Journal
A1 Hampp C, Kauf TL, Saidi AS, Winterstein AG
T1 COst-effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis in various indications
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2011
FD June 1
VO 165
IS 6
SP 498
OP 505
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.298
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.298
AB 
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are the most common cause of hospitalization in early childhood, accounting for 57 000 to 120 000 hospitalizations each year in the United States.1- 2 Immunoprophylaxis for RSV infection is limited by the high cost of the prophylactic agent, palivizumab (Synagis; MedImmune, Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland). Dosed at 15 mg/kg body weight, one 50-mg vial is necessary to immunize a newborn child (3 kg) for 1 month at an average wholesale price (AWP) of $1145.47.3 Depending on a child's underlying risk, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends prophylaxis during 5 months of the RSV season for children up to 2 years of age.4 With increasing body weight, older children require higher doses of palivizumab. Consequently, the cost of prophylaxis for a child in the second year of life (>10 kg) can exceed $3000 per month or $15 000 per RSV season, amplifying the financial burden of prophylaxis against RSV infection.