Am J Perinatol 2019; 36(13): 1401-1404
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1677475
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Wide Pulse Pressure Is Not Associated with Patent Ductus Arteriosus in the First Week of Life

Alona Bin-Nun
1   Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
2   Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
,
Yair Kasirer
1   Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
,
Francis Mimouni
1   Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
3   Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
,
Irina Schorrs
1   Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
,
Daniel Fink
4   Department of Pediatrics, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
5   Department of Cardiology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
,
Cathy Hammerman
1   Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
2   Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
› Author Affiliations

Funding None.
Further Information

Publication History

23 October 2018

02 December 2018

Publication Date:
15 January 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objectives Widened pulse pressure is generally associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Surprisingly, this is often not true for preterm infants during the first week of life when systolic and diastolic pressures are both reduced and pulse pressure may remain unchanged.

Study Design This is a retrospective, observational review of individual blood pressure (BP) parameters preterm neonates <30 weeks' gestational age during the first week of life as correlated with ductal patency and severity.

Results Sixteen preterm neonates had a closed ductus on initial echocardiogram during the first week of life; 30 had a PDA that was open but hemodynamically insignificant; and 16 were found to have a hemodynamically significant PDA. Pulse pressure showed no correlation (p = 0.266) with the degree of ductal patency, whereas diastolic BP was best correlated with ductal severity (p < 0.001).

Conclusion We found that low diastolic pressures are better correlated with ductal patency and severity than is pulse pressure in preterm neonates during the first week of life.

Authors' Contributions

F.M. and C.H. conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial article, and reviewed and revised the article. A.B.-N., Y.K., I.S., and D.F. designed the data collection instruments, collected data, performed the initial analyses, and reviewed and revised the article. All authors approved the final article as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.