This study aimed to perform an economic evaluation of anticytokines adalimumab (ADA), etanercept (ETA) and infliximab (IFX) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the State of Parana, in Brazil, in the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System. Data on efficacy and safety of treatment were collected in literature, and costs were calculated on the amounts spent by the Government for each treatment. A Markov model was performed to get the cost-effectiveness of each treatment. The incremental cost-effectiveness relationship (ICER) compared to a standard treatment was also calculated for each anticytokine. Sensitivity analysis and discount rates were applied. In assessing cost-effectiveness we found the following values (cost at R$ per QALY): 511,633.00, 437,486.00 and 657,593.00 (respectively for ADA, ETA and IFX). The ICER (R$ per QALY) was 628,124.00, 509,974.00 and 965,927.00 (for ADA, ETA and IFX). In the sensitivity analysis, ETA and ADA showed similar values. It is for public managers and physicians the choice for each patient, among the treatments available.
rheumatoid arthritis; cost-effectiveness; QALY
