The effect of patent ductus arteriosus treatment with paracetamol on pulmonary vascular resistance

The use of paracetamol to achieve closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants lacks robust safety data [1]. Paracetamol exerts its vasoconstrictive effect on ductal tissue by inhibition of prostaglandin H2 synthase, which is responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid [2]. Dysregulation of this pathway is implicated in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension [3]. In this report, we assess the impact of paracetamol administration for PDA closure on pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in preterm infants <29 weeks gestation using echocardiography.