Intravenous paracetamol with a lower dose is also effective for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in pre-term infants.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pre-term infants. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of lower-dose paracetamol for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in pre-term infants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 13 pre-term infants who received intravenous paracetamol because of contrindications or side effects to oral ibuprofen were retrospectively enrolled. In the first patient, the dose regimen was 15 mg/kg/dose, every 6 hours. As the patient developed significant elevation in transaminase levels, the dose was decreased to 10 mg/kg/dose, every 8 hours in the following 12 patients. Echocardiographic examination was conducted daily. In case of closure, it was repeated after 2 days and when needed thereafter in terms of reopening.

RESULTS:

A total of 13 patients received intravenous paracetamol. Median gestational age was 29 weeks ranging from 24 to 31 weeks and birth weight was 950 g ranging from 470 to 1390 g. The median postnatal age at the first intravenous paracetamol dose was 3 days ranging from 2 to 9 days. In 10 of the 13 patients (76.9%), patent ductus arteriosus was closed at the median 2nd day of intravenous paracetamol ranging from 1 to 4 days. When the patient who developed hepatotoxicity was eliminated, the closure rate was found to be 83.3% (10/12).

CONCLUSION:

Intravenous paracetamol may be a useful treatment option for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in pre-term infants with contrindication to ibuprofen. In our experience, lower-dose paracetamol is effective in closing the patent ductus arteriosus in 83.3% of the cases.

• Authors: Kadir Şerafettin Tekgündüz, Naci Ceviz, İbrahim Caner, Haşim Olgun, Yaşar Demirelli, Canan Yolcu, İrfan Oğuz Şahin, Mustafa Kara
• Journal: Cardiology in the young (Cardiol Young) Vol. 25 Issue 6 Pg. 1060-4 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1467-1107 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25160728 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
• Acetaminophen

Topics

• Acetaminophen (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Administration, Intravenous
• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Birth Weight
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Ductus Arteriosus, Patent (drug therapy)
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Male
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome