Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Contraction of the fetal ductus arteriosus induced by diclofenac. Case report
A J Rein1, M Nadjari, U Elchalal
1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. rein@cc.huji.ac.il
The ductus arteriosus in the fetus may contract after administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and aspirin. We report a similar effect observed after a 36-week pregnant women was given diclofenac against flank pains. The ductus of this fetus was vasoconstricted with evidence of right ventricular hypertension. It resolved after cessation of the drug. Diclofenac is a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and thus carries the pharmacodynamic properties of other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, resulting in vasoconstriction of the ductus arteriosus. We suggest monitoring of the fetal ductus state and velocities by fetal echocardiography in women treated with diclofenac.
The ductus arteriosus in the fetus may contract after administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and aspirin. We report a similar effect observed after a 36-week pregnant women was given diclofenac against flank pains. The ductus of this fetus was vasoconstricted with evidence of right ventricular hypertension. It resolved after cessation of the drug. Diclofenac is a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and thus carries the pharmacodynamic properties of other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, resulting in vasoconstriction of the ductus arteriosus. We suggest monitoring of the fetal ductus state and velocities by fetal echocardiography in women treated with diclofenac.
