Randomized Pilot Study Comparing Oral Ibuprofen With Intravenous Ibuprofen in Very Low Birth Weight Infants With Patent Ductus Arteriosus (original) (raw)

BACKGROUND. We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-masked pilot study with the principal aim of comparing efficacy and tolerance between oral and intravenous ibuprofen in early closure of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants. The possibility of ductal closure with only 1 or 2 doses of treatment was a secondary objective. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Sixty-four very low birth weight patients with echocardiographically confirmed patent ductus arteriosus and respiratory distress were studied. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral (group O, n = 32) or intravenous (group I, n = 32) ibuprofen starting on the third day of life. After the first dose of treatment in both groups, echocardiographic evaluation was performed to determine the need for a second or third dose. The rate of ductal closure, adverse effects, complications, and the patient's clinical course were recorded. RESULTS. In each group, 24 (75%) patients were born after 28 weeks&#3...