Lenograstim and filgrastim in the febrile neutropenia prophylaxis of hospitalized patients: efficacy and cost of the prophylaxis in a retrospective survey

Rolando Innocenti,1 Luigi Rigacci,1,2 Umberto Restelli,3,4 Barbara Scappini,1 Giacomo Gianfaldoni,1 Rosa Fanci,1 Francesco Mannelli,1 Francesca Scolari,3 Davide Croce,3,4 Erminio Bonizzoni,5 Tania Perrone,6 Alberto Bosi1 1Hematology Department, University of Florence and AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy; 2Hematology Unit and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy; 3Center for Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management, LIUC – Università Cattaneo, Castellanza (VA), Italy; 4School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 5Section of Medical Statistics and Biometry “GA Maccacaro”, Department of Clinical Science and Community, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 6Medical Affairs Department, Italfarmaco SpA, Milan, Italy Purpose: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and related costs of using two different molecules of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (lenograstim – LENO or filgrastim – FIL) as primary prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in a hematological inpatient setting. Methods: The primary endpoints of the analysis were the efficacy of the two G-CSFs in terms of the level of white blood cells, hemoglobin and platelets at the end of the treatment and the per capita direct medical costs related to G-CSF prophylaxis. Results: Two hundred twelve patients (96 LENO, 116 FIL) have been evaluated. The following statistically significant differences have been observed between FIL and LENO: the use of a higher number of vials (11 vs 7; P