Furosemide for patent ductus arteriosus during cyclooxygenase inhibitor therapy: A systematic review

Although furosemide is used during cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor therapy for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), there are concerns regarding increased ductal closure failure and acute renal failure (ARF). This systematic review explores the effects of furosemide during COX inhibitor therapy.

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases for randomized clinical trials that assessed furosemide during COX inhibitor therapy for PDA in preterm infants. The primary outcome measure was PDA closure failure. Mortality and other complications were also assessed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized control trials, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria.

Overall, three trials involving 121 patients were included in the analysis. The overall incidence of PDA closure failure was 28%. Although the result of PDA closure failure, mortality, and ARF were obtained, other outcomes were not described in any of the studies. The risk of bias was high. The risk of PDA closure failure did not increase with furosemide administration. Furosemide was not associated with decreased mortality but was associated with an increased risk of ARF (risk ratio, 4.96 [95% confidence interval: 1.80-13.6]). The certainty of evidence for all outcomes was very low.

Although furosemide is not associated with an increased risk of PDA closure failure or mortality, the risk of ARF increases after furosemide administration during COX inhibitor therapy.