Abstract
Objectives The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous indomethacin (IND) therapy
for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in neonates with genetic disorders and/or congenital
anomalies soon after birth.
Study Design A total of 301 neonates with a genetic disorder and/or congenital anomalies and with
a gestational age of ≥35 weeks were admitted during the study period. Eighty-five
neonates with 56 genetic disorders (30 cases of trisomy 21, 10 cases of trisomy 18,
and 16 others) and 29 congenital anomalies, and with clinical symptoms received intravenous
IND therapy. The management methods were similar to those used for PDA in low-birth-weight
infants.
Results IND therapy had a clinical benefit at a high rate of 79% in these patients (90% and
70% in neonates with trisomies 21 and 18, respectively), including complete closure
of the PDA in 52% of the patients. Although oliguria was observed in 43 infants (51%)
and slight gastrointestinal bleeding was observed in 12 (14%), no infants had severe
complications such as intracranial bleeding.
Conclusions IND therapy is an effective treatment option before considering surgery for PDA in
neonates with genetic disorders and/or congenital anomalies. This therapy may reduce
the difficulty of treatment in the acute stage among these neonates.
Keywords
patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) - indomethacin - chromosome abnormality - trisomy 21
- trisomy 18