Therapy of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus in preterms using mefenemic acid and indomethacin

Mefenemic acid (MA) was given in three doses of 2 mg/kg/dose at 12 hourly intervals in 16 cases clinically suspected of having symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). All babies were 35 weeks gestation (mean 3.01 weeks) and weighed ≤1700g at birth (mean 1320 g), the mean age of administration of MA being 16 days. Of the 16 cases, two did not respond to therapy. One non-responder was subsequenlty shown to have an endocardial cushion defect without PDA on 2-D Echo and Doppler study