미숙아 동맥관 개존증에 대한 약물 치료로서 mefenamic acid는 널리 사용되고 있는 indomethacin과 같이 효과적으로 생각되며, 더 많은 연구를 통해 치료 효과에 대해 indomethacin과의 비교 분석이 이루어 진다면, 부작용이 경미하고 정확한 정량 사용이 가능하기 때문에, indomethacin대신 미숙아 동맥관 개존증 치료제로 사용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.
This study was conducted to examine the effect of mefenamic acid for treatment of PDA in premature newborns. Ductus arteriosus is reopened by locally produced prostaglandin $E_2$ in a premature newborn during hypoxia. Mefenamic acid is one of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs acting by inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase in the prostaglandin synthesis pathway. For three premature newborns with PDA, we administered mefenamic acid and evaluated them with echocardiography to study the effect of mefenmic acid for closure of PDA. In all three babies, ductus arteriosus was closed successfully. We feel that mefenamic acid is safe and effective medication for treatment of PDA in premature newborns, but further study need to be conducted with larger numbers of cases to confirm this effect.
