Estimated Cost-effectiveness of Subcutaneous Insulin Aspart in the Management of Mild Diabetic Ketoacidosis Among Children.

Importance: Intravenous (IV) insulin infusion is the standard of care for treating diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) worldwide. Subcutaneous (SC) insulin aspart could decrease the use of health care resources. Objective: To compare the cost-effectiveness of mild uncomplicated DKA management with SC insulin aspart vs IV insulin infusion among pediatric patients from the perspective of a public health care payer using clinical data. Design, Setting, and Participants: This economic evaluation included children aged 2 to 14 years presenting to the emergency department of a single academic medical center with mild DKA between January 1, 2015, and March 15, 2020. The medical records for DKA treatment course and its associated hospitalization costs were reviewed. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2015, to March 15, 2020. Exposures: Subcutaneous insulin aspart vs IV regular insulin infusion. Main Outcomes and Measures: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (US dollars per hour), duration of DKA treatment, and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 129 children with mild DKA episodes (mean [SD] age, 9.9 [3.1] years; 72 girls [55.8%]) were enrolled in the study. Seventy children received SC insulin aspart and 59 received IV regular insulin. Overall, the length of hospital stay in the SC insulin group was reduced (mean, 16.9 [95% CI, -31.0 to -2.9] hours) compared with the IV insulin group (P = .005). The mean (SD) cost of hospitalization in the SC insulin group (US $1071.99 [US $523.89]) was less than that in the IV insulin group (US $1648.90 [US $788.03]; P = .001). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was -34.08 (95% CI, -25.97 to -129.82) USD/h. The use of SC insulin aspart was associated with a lower likelihood of prolonged hospital stay (ß = -17.22 [95% CI, -32.41 to -2.04]; P = .03) than IV regular insulin when controlling for age and sex. Conclusion and Relevance: Findings of this economic evaluation suggest that SC insulin aspart is dominant vs IV regular insulin in the management of mild uncomplicated DKA in children.

The histological spectrum of tubulo-reticular inclusion positive renal biopsies: a tertiary hospital experience and review of the literature.

AIM: To identify the underlying diseases with TRI-positive kidney biopsies, and describe the histological pattern and spectrum of TRI-positive kidney biopsies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients' chart that underwent renal biopsy at King Saud University Medical City between 2012 and 2017 was done. Kidney biopsies that indicated a positive result for tubuloreticular inclusions (TRI's) on electron microscopy were reviewed and the underlying disease and histological pattern was extracted. RESULTS: Of 1,473 native kidney biopsies reviewed, 96 (6.5%) were TRI-positive. Of the 96 TRI-positive kidney biopsies, 87 (90.6%) were TRI-positive lupus nephritis (LN); of which 10 (11.5%) were Class V, 49 (56.3%) were active LN, and 28 (32.2%) were inactive LN. The underlying diseases of the nine non-LN TRI-positive cases included diabetic nephropathy, connective tissue disorders, immune complex mediated Glomerulonephritis (GN), acute thrombotic microangiopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and Wegener's disease. CONCLUSION: LN is a very common finding in TRI-positive kidney biopsies. Active LN and chronic LN are the more common classes of TRI-positive LN kidney biopsies, than pure membranous (Class V) LN. TRI positive kidney biopsies without LN are commonly found in diabetic nephropathy, connective tissue disorders and immune mediated GN's. This study highlights this finding in our patients cohort in opposition to what has been reported in the literature.