Aim: To compare neurodevelopmental results in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants two years after successful or failed cyclooxygenase inhibitor treatment with either indomethacin or ibuprofen for a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA).
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated closure rates and outcome parameters of VLBW infants with hsPDA 89 of whom were treated with indomethacin and 93 with ibuprofen.
Results: Indomethacin and ibuprofen therapy groups did not differ in their baseline clinical profile (median gestational age 26.0 and 26.2wksd) in early (median CRIB 6 and 5, respiratory distress >2 degrees in 36 and 34 infants) and late morbidities (intraventricular hemorrhage >2 degrees in 9 and 10 infants, bronchopulmonary dysplasia in 31 and 27 infants, 80 and 85 survivors), PDA closure rates (63 and 58%) or neurodevelopmental outcome. The therapy failure group (54 infants) was characterized by lower median gestational age (25.0wksd) and higher mortality (17%). No differences were found in the neurodevelopmental outcome of the surviving infants with ligation as compared to the survivors with successful pharmacological closure of the PDA at 24months corrected age.
Conclusion: Use of either ibuprofen or indomethacin for closure of a hsPDA did not influence two year neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants.