Comparison of Oral and Intravenous Ibuprofen for Medical Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus: Which One Is Better?

Abstract

Oral ibuprofen therapy is as efficacious as intravenous ibuprofen with some concerns about increased sepsis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia incidence. However, comprehensive and large-scale pharmacokinetic studies are required in order to prove this efficacy. On the other hand, intravenous ibuprofen still remains to be the drug of choice for patent ductus arteriosus but only with meticulous control of serum sodium levels in smaller infants.