Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus With Indomethacin or Ibuprofen in Extreme Low Birth Weight Infants

The aims of this study are to compare the efficacy, the side effects and the renal prostaglandin (PG) excretion between indomethacin and ibuprofen in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. We enrolled one hundred and ten ELBW infants who had clinically significant and echo-evidence patent ductus arteriosus were assigned into 2 groups, 56 received indomethacin (0.2 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg in 24 hours interval) and 54 received ibuprofen (10 mg/kg, 5mg/kg and 5 mg/kg in 24 hours interval). Serum electrolytes, creatinine, renal function (urine output, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), fractional excretion of sodium and potassium, osmolar clearance and free water clearance), urinary PG excretion, pulmonary outcome and mortality were all evaluated.

Inclusion criteria

• The selection criteria were: (1) preterm infants with birth weight <1000 g; 2) radiographic diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS); (3) requirement of mechanical ventilation and (4) echocardiographic and clinical evidence of significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Exclusion criteria

• Exclusion criteria included: (1) evidence of infection or sepsis; 2) lethal congenital anomalies; (3) oliguria (< 1 ml/kg/h) and/or serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dl and (4) low platelet count (< 50,000/mm3) or bleeding tendency.