A cost effectiveness analysis of the preferred antidotes for acute paracetamol poisoning patients in Sri Lanka

Table 1 Probability for hepatotoxicity and death, when antidotes are administered within 0-10 and 10-24 hours from the acute ingestion

	Probability for AST/ALT > 1000 IU/l (n/N) [6, 7]	Probability for death (n/N)	Note
IV NAC 300 mg/kg over 20.25 hours
Within 10 hours	4% (13/315)	0^†(0/13)	*
	(95% CI 2.5 to 7.0)	(95% CI 0 to 24)
Within 10-24 hours	20% (67/322)	9%^‡ (6/67)	*
	(95% CI 17 to 26)	(95% CI 3.8 to 18)
Methionine 1 g 4 hourly 4 doses
Within 10 hours	9% (13/143)	0^†	#
	(95% CI 4.5 to 15)	(95% CI 0 to 24)
Within 10-24 hours	38%(17/41)	12%^Π(2/17)	#
	(95% CI 26.3 to 57.9)	(95% CI 2 to 36)

* Probabilities were derived by pooling results of Prescott et al. 1979, Smilkstein et al. 1988, Burkhart et al. 1995, Buckley et al. 1999, Parker et al. 1990, Smilkstein et al. 1991, Woo et al. 2000, Ayonrinde et al. 2005 and Kerr et al. 2005 [9–17]. # Probabilities were derived by pooling results of Prescott et al. 1979, Crome et al. 1976, Hamlyn et al. 1981, Prescott et al. 1976 and Vale et al. 1981 [9, 18–21]. † No patient treated (NAC/methionine) within 10 hours died due to hepatototoxicity, therefore the probability of death due to hepatotoxicity was zero