Clinical and echocardiography predictors of response to first-line acetaminophen treatment in preterm infants with hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus

To assess clinical and echocardiography predictors of acetaminophen response for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm neonates.

Retrospective cohort study of preterm infants born <30 weeks, with a diagnosis of hemodynamically significant PDA, who received 1^st line treatment with intravenous acetaminophen during the first 2 postnatal weeks. Response was defined by PDA closure or improvement in PDA score of >50%.

A total of 100 infants were included whose median weight and gestational age at birth were 663 grams and 24.6 weeks respectively. In total, 66 infants were classified as responders and were more likely to have intrauterine growth restriction, exposure to maternal hypertension and chorioamnionitis. Non-response was more common among infants with thrombocytopenia and anemia.

Responders were more likely to be IUGR with echocardiography indices of lower preload. Response to 1^st line intravenous acetaminophen therapy is comparable to non-steroidal drugs in preterm infants. Relationship of response to acetaminophen to perinatal characteristics requires further characterization.