Management of the PDA Trial (PDA)

April 20, 2026 updated by: NICHD Neonatal Research Network

Management of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants Trial (PDA Trial)

Estimate the risks and benefits of active treatment versus expectant management of a symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (sPDA) in premature infants.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a pragmatic randomized multicenter, effectiveness study comparing active treatment of a symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (sPDA) to expectant management. We hypothesize in premature infants with a sPDA, expectant management reduces the incidence proportion of death or BPD by 10% (from 50% to 40%) when compared to active treatment.

Participants with a sPDA allocated to the active treatment arm will receive intravenous administration of indomethacin or ibuprofen (depending on center preference). The decision to ligate will be left to the clinical team. Participants with a sPDA allocated to the expectant management arm will receive supportive care at the clinical team's discretion and will receive indomethacin/ibuprofen or ligation if the infant develops cardiopulmonary compromise. The decision to ligate will be left to the clinical team.

The primary endpoint for the study will be death or BPD (as assessed by the physiologic definition) at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
482

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Abhik Das, PhD
  • Phone Number: 301-230-4640

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35233
        • University of Alabama at Birmingham
    • California
      • Palo Alto, California, United States, 94304
        • Stanford University
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92123
        • Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30303
        • Emory University
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
        • University of Iowa
    • Mississippi
      • Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 39216
        • University of Mississippi Medical Center - Children's of Mississippi
    • New Mexico
      • Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87131
        • University of New Mexico
    • New York
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester
    • North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
        • Duke University
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27705
        • RTI International
    • Ohio
      • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45267
        • Cincinnati Children's Medical Center
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
        • Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43205
        • Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • University of Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
      • Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02905
        • Brown University - Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
        • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84108
        • University of Utah

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

2 days to 3 weeks (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Postnatal age 48 hours -21 days
  • Infant 22 0/7 to 28 6/7 weeks gestation at birth

  • sPDA, as defined as:

    1. Mild, Moderate, or Severe Clinical Criteria with Small or Moderate size PDA on echocardiogram
    2. Mild or Moderate Clinical Criteria with Large PDA on echocardiogram

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cardiopulmonary compromise
  • Known congenital heart disease (besides atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect)
  • Known pulmonary malformation (e.g. congenital lobar emphysema, congenital pulmonary adenomatous malformation)
  • Any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude enrollment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Active Treatment Group
Infants assigned to the active treatment group will receive indomethacin or ibuprofen per their local site usual care dosing and schedule if the infant has a sPDA. The choice of indomethacin or ibuprofen will be left to the center, however, infants may only receive one or the other.
Other: Active Treatment
Infants assigned to the active treatment group will receive indomethacin or ibuprofen per their local site usual care dosing and schedule if the infant has a sPDA. The choice of indomethacin or ibuprofen will be left to the center, however, infants may only receive one or the other. If the infant receives both, it will be considered a protocol violation.
Active Comparator: Expectant Management Group
Infants assigned to the expectant management group will receive indomethacin or ibuprofen if cardiopulmonary compromise occurs.
Other: Expectant Management
Infants assigned to the expectant management group will receive indomethacin or ibuprofen if cardiopulmonary compromise occurs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Death or Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: Randomization to 36 weeks PMA
A composite outcome for infants who were diagnosed with physiologic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or died by 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Physiologic BPD is determined using existing Neonatal Research Network Generic Database criteria at 36 weeks PMA. Infants alive an in hospital are classified based on respiratory status at 36 weeks PMA or by a room air weaning challenge performed between 36 and 37 weeks PMA. Infants who are transferred or discharged before 36 weeks are classified based on the support they are receiving at that time. Infants who died before 36 weeks PMA are not assessed for BPD. Deaths include all-cause deaths between randomization and 36 weeks PMA.
Randomization to 36 weeks PMA

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mortality at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: birth to 36 week postmenstrual age
mortality assessed at 36 week postmenstrual age
birth to 36 week postmenstrual age
Mortality Before Discharge
Time Frame: birth to 120 days of life
mortality assessed prior to hospital discharge
birth to 120 days of life
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - Physiological Test
Time Frame: birth to 36 week postmenstrual age
BPD defined by the physiologic test of oxygen therapy
birth to 36 week postmenstrual age
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - NIH Consensus Definition
Time Frame: birth to 36 week postmenstrual age
BPD defined by the NIH consensus definition of moderate or severe
birth to 36 week postmenstrual age
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Proven NEC, no surgery, Stages IIA, IIB, or IIIA AND proven, surgery, Stage IIIB
birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Retinopathy of Prematurity at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Stage 3 or worse in either eye AND as any intervention therapy-retinal ablation, scleral buckle/vitrectomy, avastin or other anti-VEGF drug
birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Receipt of Therapies Designed to Close the PDA
Time Frame: birth to 120 days
Defined as ligation or cardiac catheterization
birth to 120 days
Weight at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Weight assessed at 36 weeks post menstrual age
birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Height at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Height assessed at 36 weeks post menstrual age
birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Head Circumference at 36 Weeks PMA
Time Frame: birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age
Head Circumference assessed at 36 weeks post menstrual age
birth to 36 weeks post menstrual age

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) at Status (2 Years)
Time Frame: 26 months corrected age
Proven NEC, no surgery, Stages IIA, IIB, or IIIA AND proven, surgery, Stage IIIB
26 months corrected age
Retinopathy of Prematurity at Status (2 Years)
Time Frame: 26 months corrected age
Stage 3 or worse in either eye AND as any intervention therapy-retinal ablation, scleral buckle/vitrectomy, avastin or other anti-VEGF drug
26 months corrected age
Weight at Status (2 Years)
Time Frame: 26 months corrected age
Weight assessed at status (2 years)
26 months corrected age
Height at Status (2 Years)
Time Frame: 26 months corrected age
Height assessed at status (2 years)
26 months corrected age
Head Circumference at Status (2 Years)
Time Frame: 26 months corrected age
Head Circumference assessed at status (2 years)
26 months corrected age
Neurodevelopmental Impairment (NDI) at Status (2 Years)
Time Frame: 26 months corrected age
Severe NDI will be defined by any of the following: a Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID) III cognitive score < 70, Gross Motor Functional (GMF) Level of 3-5, blindness (<20/200 vision) or profound hearing loss (inability to understand commands despite amplification); moderate NDI will be defined as a BSID III cognitive score 70-84 and either a GMF level of 2 or a hearing deficit requiring amplification to understand commands or unilateral blindness; mild NDI will be defined by a cognitive score 70-84, or a cognitive score ≥ 85 and any of the following: presence of a GMF level 1 or hearing loss not requiring amplification. Normal (no NDI) will be defined by a cognitive score ≥ 85 and absence of any neurosensory deficits.
26 months corrected age

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
NICHD Neonatal Research Network

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 22, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 2, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 19, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 28, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 7, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NICHD-NRN-0059
  • UG1HD112079 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • UG1HD112097 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • UG1HD112100 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Per NIH Data Sharing Plan

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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