Text Box: PALIVIZUMAB: HOW EXPENSIVE IS A PREVENTION PROGRAM IN ARGENTINE? Gonzalez E, Avila E, Barrionuevo B, Santillan M Servicio de Neonatologia y Pediatria.Tucumán, Argentina Objetive: To compare hospitalization cost in bronchiolitis vs. prevention program cost with Palivizumab in a private Medical Center. Methods: A prospective randomized double blind study was performed in a level III of complexity private Medical Center in Tucumán , Argentine. During March to September´2000 (RSV´s season) from 60 premature infants <35 weeks AG or less discharged of NICU, only 30 (50%) were eligibled to receive Palivizumab prophilaxis, according to AAP guidelines. It was compared cost of RSV hospitalization vs. cost of RSV prevention program with Palivizumab. Results: From 30 premature infants who received Palivizumab prophilaxis, none of them (100%) required hospitalization due to bronchiolitis. However, from the group of premature infants who did not received prophilaxis, 29 (96,6%) of them, neither required hospitalization. While hospitalization cost was u$s2.380, the cost of prevention program with Palivizumab increased to u$s300.000. (1bottle=100mg=u$s2000). Conclusions: The cost of Palivizumab prophilaxis widely overcame the hospitalization cost. These data suggest that the confirmation of prevalent virology in each season,and the review of guidelines for Palivizumab prophilaxis, should be consider at the moment of using a too expensive drug such as Palivizumab for a prevention program in a development country. 1997