Table 2.
Comparison of costs for heparin versus argatroban
| Heparin | Argatroban | |
|---|---|---|
| Mean dosage/ICU day | 21744 IE | 49.6 mg |
| Costs/ICU day | 2.17 EUR | 37.60 EUR |
| Total costs before HIT (mean ICU LOS before HIT suspicion = 7.5 days) | 16.40 EUR | 283.90 EUR |
| Costs for HIT diagnostics | 27.98 EUR (PF4 ELISA) | |
| 52.46 EUR (HIPAA) | ||
| PRBC transfusion before HIT suspicion | 9.9 units | 4.4 units |
| PRBC total costs before HIT (unit costs = 90 EUR) | 900.00 EUR | 450.00 EUR |
| Total costs for anticoagulation and transfusions | 916.40 EUR | 814.34 EUR |
| ICU LOS | 26 | 6 |
| Total costs of ICU stay (1050EUR/day) | 27.000.00 EUR | 6.300.00 EUR |
An ICU LOS of 7.5 days and increased RBC transfusion with heparin anticoagulation were assumed. For further details see text.