title: The pharmacologic closure of the patent ductus arteriosus.
abstract: The ductus arteriosus is a fetal vessel that allows most of the blood leaving the right ventricle of the heart to bypass the lungs. Fetal patency of the ductus, and its spontaneous closure after birth, is the result of a balanced interaction of locally produced and circulating mediators (of which prostaglandins seem to be the most important), and the unique structure of the vessel wall. Persistent patency of the ductus occurs in almost 60% of very low birthweight infants. A significant left-to-right shunt through the ductus increases morbidity and mortality in premature infants. As prostaglandins play a major role in patency of the ductus, cyclooxygenase inhibitors are conventionally used to induce its closure. This chapter focuses on some of the basic mechanisms underlying ductal patency and the clinical attempts to diminish side effects associated with indomethacin, including the alternative use of ibuprofen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium. bart.van.overmeire@uza.be
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Overmeire
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chemtob
mesh_terms: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000378:metabolism; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D007052:Ibuprofen; D007213:Indomethacin