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A randomized trial of intravenous acetaminophen versus indomethacin for treatment of hemodynamically significant PDAs in VLBW infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 93–99 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective was to compare the rate of successful treatment of hsPDA based on echocardiogram criteria after use of IV acetaminophen or IV indomethacin in very low-birthweight infants. The study was a multi-center, randomized controlled trial. Infants born prior to 32 weeks with birthweight ≤ 1500 g were included if PDA treatment was indicated within the 21 days after birth. hsPDA was defined by strict echocardiogram criteria. Eligible infants were randomized to treatment with either IV acetaminophen or IV indomethacin. Of 86 eligible infants, 17 infants were randomized to acetaminophen and 20 to indomethacin. One (5.9%) hsPDA in the acetaminophen group had successful treatment compared to 11 (55%) in the indomethacin group (p = 0.002). Eight (47%) in the acetaminophen group and 3 (15%) in the indomethacin group received transcatheter PDA closure (p = 0.07). IV indomethacin was more effective than IV acetaminophen for treatment of hsPDAs. More infants in the acetaminophen group received transcatheter closure.

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Fig. 1: Study Infants.
Fig. 2: Treatments received after initial Acetaminophen dose.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Bruce Jenkins (Mednax) for helping with enrollment. We thank LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, Regional One Health and Methodist Germantown Hospital for support during this project.

Funding

No funding was received for this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    J. M. Davidson, J. Ferguson, R. Philip, M. F. Weems & A. J. Talati

  2. Regional One Health, Memphis, TN, USA

    J. M. Davidson, M. F. Weems & A. J. Talati

  3. Lebonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    J. M. Davidson, J. Ferguson, R. Philip, M. F. Weems & A. J. Talati

  4. Mednax/Germantown Hospital, Germantown, TN, USA

    E. Ivey

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  1. J. M. Davidson
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Correspondence to J. M. Davidson.

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WMF is a consultant and speaker for Abbott Structural Heart/St Jude Medical. Otherwise, we know of no conflicts of interest associated with this publication, and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influences on its outcome.

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Davidson, J.M., Ferguson, J., Ivey, E. et al. A randomized trial of intravenous acetaminophen versus indomethacin for treatment of hemodynamically significant PDAs in VLBW infants. J Perinatol 41, 93–99 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0694-1

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