Perinatal indomethacin treatment and neonatal complications in preterm infants.
To evaluate the incidence of neonatal complications among infants exposed to indomethacin antenatally, postnatally or both ante-and postnatally (combined), the records of 240 infants of gestational ages between 23 to 32 weeks were analysed retrospectively. Antenatal indomethacin treatment for longer than 2 days with a daily or cumulative dosage >/=150 mg correlated with a significantly higher incidence of grade I-II intraventricular haemorrhage. Combined exposure, cumulative antenatal exposure >/=150 mg and duration of antenatal exposure of more than 2 days was associated with necrotising enterocolitis and a cumulative exposure with sepsis. There was no independent association between indomethacin exposure and pneumothorax, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or respiratory distress syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm infants with exposure to antenatal indomethacin might be at increased risk of grade I and II intraventricular haemorrhage and those with both ante- and postnatal exposure at an increased risk of necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis.
Ojala
R
R
Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland.
Ikonen
S
S
Tammela
O
O
D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D007213:Indomethacin