Increased Indomethacin Dosing for Persistent Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Author(s): Jegatheesan P, Ianus V, Buchh B, Yoon G, Chorne N, Ewig A, Lin E, Fields S, Moon-Grady A, Tacy T, Milstein J, Schreiber M, Padbury J, Clyman R

Affiliation(s): Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics (P.J., N.C., E.L., S.F., T.T., R.C.), University of California, San Francisco.

Publication date & source: 2008-03-18, J Pediatr., [Epub ahead of print]

Publication type:

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to determine whether higher doses of indomethacin would improve the rate of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. STUDY DESIGN: Infants (<28 weeks gestation) who received a conventional, prophylactic 3-dose course of indomethacin were eligible if they had continued evidence of persistent ductus patency on an echocardiogram obtained before the third prophylactic indomethacin dose. Infants (n = 105) were randomized to receive an extended 3-day course of either low-dose (0.1 mg/kg/d) or higher-dose (0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg/d) indomethacin. An echocardiogram was obtained 24 hours after the last dose of study drug. RESULTS: Despite increasing serum indomethacin concentrations by 2.9-fold in the higher-dose group, we failed to detect a significant decrease in the rate of persistent PDA (low = 52%; higher = 45%, P = .50). The higher-dose group had a significantly higher occurrence of serum creatinine >2 mg/100 mL (low = 6%, higher = 19%, P < .05) and moderate/severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (low = 15%, higher = 36%, P < .025). The incidence of moderate/severe ROP was directly related to the poststudy indomethacin concentrations (odds ratio = 1.75, confidence interval: 1.15-2.68, P < .01). CONCLUSION: Increasing indomethacin concentrations above the levels achieved with a conventional dosing regimen had little effect on the rate of PDA closure but was associated with higher rates of moderate/severe ROP and renal compromise.