Pharmacological Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Extreme Low Birth Weight Infants. A Comparison of Efficacy, Side Effects and Outcomes Between Indomethacin and Ibuprofen

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.