J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2011 Nov;18(2):228-233. 10.5385/jksn.2011.18.2.228.

Effects of Ibuprofen and Indomethacin for Prophylaxis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants

• Jeon BS
• Kwon KA
• Park KH
• Byun SY
• Kim MJ

• KMID: 2099196
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/jksn.2011.18.2.228

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of ibuprofen and indomethacin in the prophylaxis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants and to determine whether ibuprofen could be an alternative agent in prophylactic use.
METHODS
A retrospective study including 37 preterm infants <1,500 g of birth weight, <34 weeks of gestation, whom were administrated indomethacin (n=17; January 2009-December 2009) or ibuprofen (n=20; January 2010-February 2011) within 24 hr after birth was conducted. The rate of ductal closure, need for surgical ligation, clinical outcomes such as necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and death rate were compared.
RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in mean gestational age, mean birth weight, Apgar score, sex, type of delivery, maternal dexamethasone treatment, frequency and duration of ventilator and surfactant treatment. The closure of PDA on day 7 of life was in 19 of 20 infants of the ibuprofen group and 13 of 17 infants of the indomethacin group (P=0.159). Between the two groups, there were no significant differences with respect to clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Ibuprofen has similar effects to indomethacin in the rate of PDA closure. Our study demonstrates that prophylactic ibuprofen is relatively effective without significant differences with respect to clinical outcomes compared with indomethacin. Therefore, ibuprofen may be used as an alternative agent in the prophylaxis of PDA in preterm infants.

Keyword

Ibuprofen; Indomethacin; Patent ductus arteriosus; Preterm infant

MeSH Terms

Apgar Score
Birth Weight
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Dexamethasone
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
Gestational Age
Hemorrhage
Humans
Ibuprofen
Indomethacin
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Ligation
Parturition
Pregnancy
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Retrospective Studies
Ventilators, Mechanical
Dexamethasone
Ibuprofen
Indomethacin