Mechanisms regulating the ductus arteriosus.
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) results in increased pulmonary blood flow and redistribution of flow to other organs. Several co-morbidities (i.e., necrotizing enterocolitis, intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary edema/hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retinopathy) are associated with the presence of a PDA, but whether or not a PDA is responsible for their development is still unclear. In this review, comparative physiology between the full term and preterm newborn and the barriers preventing the necessary cascade of events leading to permanent constriction of the PDA are reviewed.
Clyman
Ronald I
RI
School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, Calif., USA. clymanr@peds.ucsf.edu
D000818:Animals; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow