Ibuprofen and paracetamol for patent ductus arteriosus

Abstract

We aimed to assess the state of the art of pharmacological treatment of patency of ductus arteriosus (PDA) with ibuprofen and paracetamol in preterm infants. We pointed out that ibuprofen is the first choice drug for PDA treatment and indomethacin should be abandoned for its frequent adverse effects. However, also the pharmacological prevention of PDA should be abandoned because many preterm infants have spontaneous closure of PDA and ibuprofen may have dangerous adverse effects. Oral paracetamol has been found in two randomized controlled studies to have the same effectiveness of ibuprofen in closing PDA but without toxicity. If these data will be confirmed the management of PDA in preterm infants should be re-evaluated.

Proceedings of the 10^th International Workshop on Neonatology · Cagliari (Italy) · October 22^nd-25^th, 2014 · The last ten years, the next ten years in Neonatology

Guest Editors: Vassilios Fanos, Michele Mussap, Gavino Faa, Apostolos Papageorgiou