[Oral treatment of onychomycosis of the toe nails; comparison of cost-effectiveness of griseofulvin, itraconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine].

OBJECTIVE

Determination of the most cost-effective oral drug treatment of onychomycosis of the toenails in the Dutch situation, by comparing griseofulvin, itraconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine.

DESIGN

Calculation of cost prices using a published meta-analysis.

SETTING

The Netherlands.

METHOD

Published efficacy and adverse reactions of treatment with griseofulvin, itraconazole, ketoconazole or terbinafine were related to 1993 Dutch cost prices of treatment.

RESULTS

Itraconazole and terbinafine offered similar chances of success, but itroconazole treatment had to be repeated more often. On average, the costs of the treatment with itraconazole were 1.5 times as high as those of treatment with terbinafine. Griseofulvin treatment was cheapest but required the longest treatment course.

CONCLUSION

A treatment with terbinafine is the most cost-effective, provided that onychomycosis has actually been established mycologically and all possible measures have been taken to prevent recurrence. It remains to be seen whether this drug treatment should be offered to all people affected by this essentially cosmetic problem.