title: Plasma-prostaglandins in pre-term neonates before and after treatment for patient ductus arteriosus.
abstract: 9 pre-term babies with patent ductus arteriosus (P.D.A.) and cardiac failure were found to have significantly higher plasma-levels of three prostaglandins (P.G.E, P.G.F, and P.G.FM) than a group of normal pre-term infants of the same age. There was no difference in the plasma-prostaglandin levels before and after surgery in the 5 infants who underwent ligation of the ductus, suggesting that the high P.G. levels are not the result of a patent ductus, but that P.G.S may have a role in the pathogenesis of P.D.A. 3 infants who were treated by indomethacin (a P.G. synthetase inhibitor) showed a sharp initial drop in plasma-levels of the three P.G.S, but levels of P.G.F and P.G.FM had risen either during or within 48 h of completion of the course of indomethacin. These results may explain why high failure-rates have been reported for treatment of P.D.A. by indomethacin.
mesh_terms: D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000097:blood*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000097:blood; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D007213:Indomethacin