We conducted a comparative study to evaluate whether the low-dose continuous indomethacin therapy in the early days of age would reduce incidence of the symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) without the adverse effects. Thirty-seven infants were in the historical comparison group, and 39 infants were given low-dose indomethacin continuously (0.004 mg/kg/h) from 6-12 postnatal hours until the recognition of closing PDA. Low-dose continuous indomethacin significantly decreased the incidence of symptomatic PDA at 5 days of age (p < 0.01) as compared with the historical comparison group. There was no episode of decreasing urinary output and necrotizing enterocolitis in the indomethacin group. We conclude that the low-dose continuous indomethacin therapy results in decreasing the incidence of symptomatic PDA without significant adverse reactions.
Low-dose continuous indomethacin - patent ductus arteriosus - adverse effects
