Efficacy and safety of oral versus intravenous ibuprofen in very low birth weight preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus.

OBJECTIVE

To compare oral ibuprofen with intravenous ibuprofen for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants.

STUDY

DESIGN

In a prospective, randomized study, 102 VLBW preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus received either intravenous or oral ibuprofen at an initial dose of 10 mg/kg, followed by 5 mg/kg at 24 and 48 hours. The success rate and evaluation of renal tolerance using cystatin-C were the major outcomes.

RESULTS

Patent ductus arteriosus closure rate was significantly higher with oral ibuprofen (84.6% versus 62%) after the first course of the treatment (P = .011). The cystatin-C level increased significantly after treatment in the oral group (P = .001), but did not change with intravenous ibuprofen (P = .4).

CONCLUSIONS

Oral ibuprofen is more effective than intravenous ibuprofen for ductal closure in VLBW infants. The increase in the cystatin-C level with oral treatment suggests that patients with borderline renal function should be evaluated and followed closely.