Extremely Low Gestatonal Age Infants' Paracetamol Study (Paras)

In the present trial, early, intravenous paracetamol is compared to placebo in extremely premature or low birth weight infants in order to evaluate the effect on ductal closure.

The purpose of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 2, one center clinical trial is to study the efficacy and safety of early (< 96 h) intravenous paracetamol in prophylactic closure of ductus arteriosus in extremely premature (gestational age <28+0 wk, ELGA) or low birth weight (<1000 g, ELBW) infants. The infants born extremely preterm or low birth weight are a focus of the study, since a small phase 2 study on paracetamol failed to demonstrate contraction of ductus arteriosus. In the investigator's previous cohort of ELGA/ELBW infants, the numbers of patients who needed any therapies for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were 29 (23%) in the paracetamol exposed group, and 90 (54%) in the control group. As demonstrated in a phase 2 study, the early paracetamol treatment induced the closure of ductus arteriosus: the mean (SD) ductal closure age was 177 (338) h in the whole paracetamol group. However, in the subgroup of ELGA infants born before 28 gestation weeks (n=14), the mean (SD) ductal closure ages in the paracetamol and placebo groups were 491 (504) h and 858 (719) h, respectively.

Placebo, 0.45 % saline, is similar to paracetamol, both being clear liquids, so the staff will remain unaware which drug the patient receives. The study drug will be kept and prepared away from the NICU, at the separate ward 55 office, in a locked cabinet. The study drug will be prepared by the research nurse, the pharmacist of the ward, or during nighttime, by a nurse who does not participate in the study patients' treatment in any way.

Paracetamol 10 mg/mL infusion solution, intravenous loading dose 20 mg/kg, followed by maintenance dose 7.5 mg/kg every 6 h up to 9 days

0.45% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution, equal amounts in mL as would have been given the experimental drug

The long term complications of prematurity (moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage gr 2-4, moderate to severe necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) needing therapy)

Inclusion Criteria: Premature infants born before 28+0 gestation weeks and/or birth weight less than 1000g Exclusion Criteria: Severe malformation or suspected chromosomal defect or other very severe life-threatening disease (e.g. very severe birth asphyxia or persistent pulmonary hypertension, etc.)

Juujarvi S, Saarela T, Hallman M, Aikio O. Intravenous paracetamol was associated with closure of the ductus arteriosus in extremely premature infants. Acta Paediatr. 2018 Apr;107(4):605-610. doi: 10.1111/apa.14137. Epub 2017 Nov 17.

Harkin P, Harma A, Aikio O, Valkama M, Leskinen M, Saarela T, Hallman M. Paracetamol Accelerates Closure of the Ductus Arteriosus after Premature Birth: A Randomized Trial. J Pediatr. 2016 Oct;177:72-77.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.04.066. Epub 2016 May 20.

Harma A, Aikio O, Hallman M, Saarela T. Intravenous Paracetamol Decreases Requirements of Morphine in Very Preterm Infants. J Pediatr. 2016 Jan;168:36-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.08.003. Epub 2015 Aug 29.

Aikio O, Harkin P, Saarela T, Hallman M. Early paracetamol treatment associated with lowered risk of persistent ductus arteriosus in very preterm infants. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2014 Aug;27(12):1252-6. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2013.854327. Epub 2013 Oct 31.