Human genes for patent ductus arteriosus Patent ductus
arteriosus [DOID:13832] Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a
congenital disorder in the heart wherein a neonate's ductus
arteriosus fails to close after birth. Early symptoms are
uncommon, but in the first year of life include increased work
of breathing and poor weight gain. With age, the PDA may lead to
congestive heart failure if left uncorrected. The ductus
arteriosus is a normal fetal blood vessel that closes soon after
birth. In a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) the vessel does not
close and remains "patent" resulting in irregular transmission
of blood between two of the most important arteries close to the
heart, the aorta and the pulmonary artery. PDA is common in
neonates with persistent respiratory problems such as hypoxia,
and has a high occurrence in premature children. In hypoxic
newborns, too little oxygen reaches the lungs to produce
sufficient levels of bradykinin and subsequent closing of the
DA. Premature children are more likely to be hyp