Abstract

Background

Modern immunosuppressive regimens, although associated with improved 1-year graft survival, are associated with adverse effects, including opportunistic infections, diabetes mellitus after transplantation, cardiovascular complications, and de novo malignancies.

Objectives

To determine the short-term (12 months) cost-effectiveness of everolimus (EVR) versus mycophenolate sodium (MPS) in kidney transplant recipients receiving induction therapy, tacrolimus, prednisone, and no prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus infection.

Methods

A Markov state transition model was designed. Data from a single-center prospective trial were used along with data from the center’s medical bills database. The target population comprised adults with low immunological risk submitted to first ABO-compatible transplantation with kidneys recovered from living or deceased donors. The time horizon was 12 months. The interventions included tacrolimus and prednisone plus a single 3-mg/kg dose of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and EVR or basiliximab (BAS) and EVR or BAS and MPS. The clinical outcomes considered for this analysis were cytomegalovirus infection/disease, acute rejection, graft dysfunction, surgical complications, graft loss, and life-years gained.

Results

ATG/EVR was cost-saving compared with BAS/MPS on all evaluated outcomes; BAS/EVR outperformed BAS/MPS on most of the evaluated outcomes. Results were confirmed by sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

Compared with MPS, EVR is an alternative immunosuppressive agent that is able to provide resource-saving to the health care provider with effectiveness gains for the patient.