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Paracetamol Concentrations and Time-Course of Ductus Arteriosus Diameter in Extremely Preterm Neonates: A Population Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis

Clin Pharmacokinet. 2025 Sep 1. doi: 10.1007/s40262-025-01567-4. Online ahead of print.

Faheemah Padavia 1 2 Jean-Marc Treluyer 3 4 5 6 Gilles Cambonie 7 8 Cyril Flamant 9 Aline Rideau 10 Manon Tauzin 11 Juliana Patkai 12 Géraldine Gascoin 13 Mirka Lumia 14 Outi Aikio 15 Frantz Foissac 3 4 5 Saïk Urien 3 4 5 Sihem Benaboud 3 6 Gabrielle Lui 3 6 Léo Froelicher Bournaud 3 6 Yi Zheng 6 Ruth Kemper 16 Marine Tortigue 17 18 19 Alban-Elouen Baruteau 17 18 19 20 Jaana Kallio 14 Mikko Hallman 15 Alpha Diallo 21 22 Léa Levoyer 21 22 Jean-Christophe Roze 19 20 Naïm Bouazza 3 4 5

PMID: 40889095 DOI: 10.1007/s40262-025-01567-4 

Abstract

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus is a common complication of extreme prematurity. Prophylactic treatment with indomethacin or ibuprofen has shown efficacy on ductus closure but without reducing mortality and morbidity. Prophylactic treatment by paracetamol could be a safer alternative.

Objective: The aim was to build a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) model describing the effect of paracetamol on the time-course of the ductus arteriosus diameter.

Methods: Extremely preterm neonates of 23-26 weeks of gestational age were recruited within 12 h after birth and were treated with prophylactic intravenous paracetamol for 5 days (two dose levels: 20 mg/kg followed by 7.5 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg followed by 10 mg/kg every 6 h). The diameter of ductus arteriosus was determined by echocardiography performed daily until day 7. The PKPD model was built using an Imax model with effect compartment and exponential disease progression model. Concentrations of paracetamol in the effect compartment were simulated with different doses over time for 500 virtual patients.

Results: A total of 29 extremely preterm neonates with median birth weight of 800 g (IQR: 670-860) were included in the study. Between-subject variability was estimated on transfer rate constant between the central compartment and the effect compartment (ke0) and maximum drug inhibition (Imax) parameters. Two subpopulations with different Imax values were identified: 99% for a first subpopulation of 10 patients and 42% for the second subpopulation of 19 patients. A negative effect of maximum fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) used during transfer to intensive care unit and a positive effect of intubation and ventilation during treatment were significant on ke0. Simulations showed that both dose levels generally enabled patients to reach the concentration needed to achieve 95% of maximal inhibition by the end of treatment. However, the second dose level enabled more than 90% of patients to reach this inhibition threshold as early as day one.

Conclusion: The relationship between paracetamol and the time-course of ductus arteriosus diameter has been described in extremely preterm neonates. Intravenous paracetamol treatment with a loading dose of 25 mg/kg within 12 h after birth followed by 10 mg/kg every 6 h appears to be effective to accelerate time to ductus closure with limited benefit of a further dose increase.

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