Acetaminophen is effective for closing a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and it tends to have fewer adverse effects than indomethacin or ibuprofen. Vaidya et al reported risk factors associated with failure of acetaminophen to close the PDA. The authors are from the University of Massachusetts.
Patient selection: pre-term infant with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), treated with acetaminophen
Predictors of successful closure with acetaminophen therapy from the multivariate model:
(1) gestational age > 26 weeks (relative risk 1.9)
(2) PDA diameter <= 0.2 cm (relative risk 1.8)
Additional factors from the univariate analysis:
(3) birthweight > 750 grams
(4) no previous therapy with indomethacin
where:
• Item 4: presumably exposure to indomethacin implies that it was given to close the PDA but failed.
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