A study in the Archives of Diseases in childhood reports a possible new treatment for increasing mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in preterm infants. Doctors administered tocolytic indomethacin to 18 mothers in preterm labor. Doses ranged from 50 to 150 mg. All infants were born prior to the 30th week of gestation.
Researchers evaluated MABP in 18 preterm infants born to mothers treated with indomethacin and 18 controls for 15 minute periods (four times within the first 24 hours after birth). Infants in the indomethacin group measured higher MABP than the control group, but no differences between the two groups were noted in cerebral circulation autoregulation.
Conclusion: Doses of 50 to 150 mg of tocolytic indomethacin has a positive effect on MABP in stable preterm infants. A larger study is needed to reinforce the results.
Source: Baerts W, van Bel F, Thewissen L, Derks JB, Lemmers PM. Tocolytic indomethacin: effects on neonatal hemodynamics and cerebral autoregulation in the preterm newborn. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2013 Mar 12.