Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
The first report of the use of acetaminophen to close a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) appeared in print in 2011.[1] Since that time, more than a dozen case series and clinical trials have been published.[2] Both oral and intravenous administration have been shown to be effective in closing hemodynamically significant PDAs in preterm neonates in placebo-controlled trials. In comparison studies, acetaminophen has produced rates of PDA closure similar to those of indomethacin and ibuprofen (50-80%), without having their adverse effects. Acetaminophen has not yet been approved for PDA closure by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it continues to be widely studied. There are nine active trials of acetaminophen for PDA closure listed on www.ClinicalTrials.gov, including both placebo-controlled and comparison studies.
Pediatr Pharm. 2018;24(5) © 2018 University of Virginia
