Use of indomethacin and its relationship to retinopathy of prematurity in very low birthweight infants.

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Abstract
The relationship between the use of indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, for closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and the occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity was investigated retrospectively in 63 preterm infants .ltoreq. 1500 g who were .ltoreq. 32 wk gestational age, appropriate weight for gestational age, with a diagnosis of PDA and admitted during the first 24 h of life. Retinopathy was diagnosed by retinal examination when each infant was about 4 wk old. PDA was diagnosed by clinical, radiological and echocardiographic findings. Fifteen patients were treated with indomethacin because of severe congestive heart failure. There were no differences between gestational ages, birthweights, duration of O2 therapy or incidence of retinopathy in treated and untreated patients. The use of indomethacin for PDA closure does not increase the incidence of retinopathy in very low birthweight infants.