Evaluation of adverse renal reactions to prolonged indomethacin therapy in preterm infants with persistent ductus arteriosus.

Adverse renal reaction during prolonged indomethacin therapy (1 week) was studied in 15 preterm infants with persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which was associated with an ineffective circulatory volume. Following the medication a decrease in diuresis and creatinine clearances together with an increase in urinary osmolality and body weight was observed. Determinations of selected vasoactive hormones, such as plasma renin activity (PRA), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and renal and systemic prostaglandins, indicated a complex pathophysiological condition of renal hypoperfusion and antidiuretic excess. During the treatment with indomethacin an effective circulatory volume had been restored by closing the ductus, which was followed by hormonal normalization. Subsequently kidney function was recovering despite continued indomethacin therapy. Based on these observations, one may assume that prolonged indomethacin therapy for prevention of PDA relapses is probably of no further harm to kidney function once the ductus has been closed successfully.