Dopamine and patent ductus arteriosus

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Patent ductus arteriosus is common in preterm infants and can be associated with increased morbidity. Part of the risk of the patent ductus arteriosus is related to shunting from left to right through the ductus arteriosus. In this issue of The Journal, Bouissou et al report on the results of a study to evaluate the use of dopamine in preterm infants with a patent ductus arteriosus and hypotension. They found that in hypotensive preterm infants with a patent ductus arteriosus the infusion of dopamine decreased the left to right shunt due to a rise in pulmonary vascular resistance. This should result in improved tissue perfusion and could reduce the morbidity associated with a patent ductus arteriosus. Thus, treatment with dopamine could be a useful clinical approach in preterm infants with a patent ductus arteriosus and hypotension.

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