Real-world efficiency of pharmacogenetic screening for carbamazepine- induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the cost and efficiency of routine HLA-B*15:02 screening to prevent carbamazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (CBZ-SJS/TEN) in Hong Kong. Methods: Data were extracted from patients who commenced CBZ as the first-ever AED treatment or tested for HLAB*15:02 allele in three years before policy implementation (pre-policy: 16 September 2005 to 15 September 2008) and three years after (post-policy: 16 September 2008 to 15 September 2011). Using published unit costs, we estimated the cost of screening by comparing the costs to prevent and treat CBZ-SJS/TEN. We compared the number of person-tests needed and the cost to prevent resultant de..