Congenital Heart Defects: Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Inhibitors-Topic Overview Normally, a blood vessel needed only for fetal blood circulation (called the ductus arteriosus) closes off at birth. As the fetus develops, this blood vessel is kept open by a substance in the fetus's body called prostaglandin. At birth, prostaglandin decreases and the blood vessel closes.

In some premature infants, this blood vessel does not close. This is a condition called a patent (open) ductus arteriosus. These infants are given a prostaglandin inhibitor. It's a medicine to help the blood vessel close.

Recommended Related to Heart Disease

Hardened Arteries: It's About More Than Heart Disease

Lots of people worry about atherosclerosis -- or hardening of the arteries-- as a factor in heartdisease and stroke. But did you know that diabetes, highcholesterol, high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity areall major risk factors for atherosclerosis?Take the case of Barbie Perkins-Cooper, 57, a writer from Mount Pleasant,S.C. When she discovered that she had type 2diabetes, she also discovered that she was at risk for atherosclerosis.What's worse: her high cholesterol...

Read the Hardened Arteries: It's About More Than Heart Disease article > >

When an infant has certain other congenital heart defects, a medicine that is a form of prostaglandin is often given by vein to keep the ductus arteriosus open. Keeping this blood vessel open allows the blood to keep moving until the defect can be fixed to allow normal blood flow. This may require surgery or another procedure.

In this article