The Relationship of Ductus Arteriosus Closure and D-Dimer and Fibrinogen Levels in Premature Babies

Ductus arteriosus (DA) is located between the main pulmonary artery and descending aorta in embryonal life, with dense spiral-located smooth muscle cells in the media layer, and the intima layer is thicker than the aorta. It must be open in fetal life; in this way, the blood flowing from the right ventricle to the collapsed lungs is directed to the descending aorta. DA usually closes "functionally" by constriction of the media during the first three days after labor. In the second week after birth; endothelial folding, subendothelial proliferation and coagulation processes results in "anatomical" permanent closure.

When not closed, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is formed resulting in shunting from aorta to pulmonary artery. Probability of patency is inversely related with birth weight. Risk of pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and loss of pulmonary function increases due to increased pulmonary flow from left to right shunt. Renal, mesenteric and cranial blood supply are impaired due to reduced peripheral circulation. As a result, impaired renal function and necrotizing enterocolitis may develop. Risk of intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral hypoxia and premature retinopathy due to variable blood supply. It has been associated with increased mortality in newborns due to increased morbidity. On physical examination, hyperdynamic precordium, viable pulses and left ventricular hypertrophy are observed. Large PDAs are characterized by prominent pulmonary conus, increased pulmonary vascularization and cardiomegaly on telecardiography.

Diagnosis of PDA is confirmed by echocardiography. Symptomatic PDA treatment and follow-up is mostly followed by echocardiography. Detailed echocardiographic examination can only be performed by a Pediatric Cardiologist, but it is not possible to evaluate DA at any time. It is necessary to benefit from significant changes in specific hematological parameters that may accompany DA closure in order to detect and predict these conditions.

One of the main mechanisms involved in anatomic permanent closure in DA is platelet aggregation and coagulation. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the literature investigating whether there is a relationship between Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels and anatomical closure of DA. It is postulated that circulating fibrinogen levels will decrease and D-dimer levels increase as a by-product due to thrombosis in the lumen during DA closure. It is predicted that in infants in whom DA does not close and remain open, fibrinogen levels will be higher and D-dimer levels will be lower than infants in whom DA is closed. It is also suggested that echocardiographic DA measurements will correlate with serum Fibrinogen and D-Dimer levels.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a relationship between echocardiographic measurements regarding closure of PDA and serum D-Dimer and Fibrinogen levels in premature infants born before 32nd gestational week and weighing less than 1500 grams.