Prophylactic ibuprofen in premature infants: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Ibuprofen is used for treatment and prevention of patent ductus arteriosus in low-birthweight infants. Its effects on regional circulations differ from those of indometacin. Because prophylactic indometacin reduces the frequency of severe intraventricular haemorrhage and patent ductus arteriosus, we aimed to study the efficacy of early ibuprofen in reducing these outcomes in a double-blind, multicentre trial. Methods Within 6 h after birth, 415 low-birthweight infants (gestational age