Histopathology of the arterial duct (ductus arteriosus) with and without treatment with prostaglandin E1.

In the light of conflicting data in the literature on the relation between histopathology of the arterial duct and treatment with prostaglandin E1, we restudied our material. Special attention was paid to pathology of the duct not influenced by administration of prostaglandin E1. For this reason, three comparison groups (59 specimens) of non-treated ducts were evaluated. The results were compared with data from ducts obtained from 24 infants treated with prostaglandin E1. In agreement with our earlier findings, and with the results of Calder and her colleagues, there is indeed a marked increase in histopathology of the duct after administration of prostaglandin E1. The histopathology itself, however, is not specific for ducts treated with prostaglandin E1. It can also be found in the non-treated material. This has been previously described by others but had not been noted in our own previous work. The essential difference between those studies that confirmed an increase in pathology after treatment with prostaglandin E1 and those failing to find a marked effect is in the method of study. Changes were observed by those, including ourselves, who investigated complete sets of serial sections. The changes were not seen by those studying selected cross-sections from isolated parts of the duct or, at least in the cases treated with prostaglandin E1, sections taken at intervals.