Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of different doses of Curosurf for treating neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious stage of acute lung injury (ALI) which can be treated by exogenous surfactant. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of two different doses of Poractant alfa (Curosurf®) for treating neonatal ARDS and to perform an economic evaluation. Fifty-four patients were divided into Group A (high dose) and Group B (low dose). Pharmacoeconomic evaluation was performed on the two groups regarding the treatment expenses, and the output was the cure rate and complication rate. There were significant differences between Group A and Group B for the duration of receiving oxygen therapy in moderate cases (6.4±3.5d:8.9±2.6d) (P<0.05) and severe cases (10.0±2.6d:14.8±1.3d) (P<0.05). There were significant differences between them for the duration of undergoing mechanical ventilation in severe cases (1.7±2.3d:5.5±2.4d) (P=0.01). There was a significant difference between Group A and Group B for hospitalization expenses in severe cases (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between them in all types of cases for the cure rate (P>0.05). A high dose of Curosurf had an advantage in treating neonatal ARDS, especially in severe cases, with lower final costs and better effects.