Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of premature constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus after maternal self-medication with benzydamine hydrochloride: report of 3 cases and review of the literature

Abstract

We report 3 cases of prenatal diagnosis of premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus after maternal benzydamine hydrochloride therapy (3-mg lozenges) in third-trimester pregnancies. In each case, fetal echocardiography revealed a dilated, hypocontractile right ventricle with severe tricuspid regurgitation and constriction of the ductus arteriosus. Although the effect of indomethacin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prenatal ductal constriction is well known, readily available over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as benzydamine can have an equally deleterious effect and are best avoided in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Keywords: benzydamine hydrochloride; ductus arteriosus constriction; fetal echocardiography; obstetric ultrasound; prenatal diagnosis.