The mantra for the National Institutes of Health is to promote translational research that will improve outcomes in humans. And not all animal model research translates very well. Shah et al have carefully and elegantly defined the mechanisms and mediators that promote ductal patency and closure over many years in animal models and preterm infants. The use of indomethacin or ibuprofen to close the ductus arteriosis or prostaglandin infusions to keep the ductus open are superb examples of the application of physiology to human disease. In mice, platelets are required to maintain ductal closure following birth. In this issue of The Journal, Shah et al report that, in contrast to mice, there is no correlation between platelet counts and ductal closure with indomethacin in preterm infants. So be it.Article page 919▶ The mantra for the National Institutes of Health is to promote translational research that will improve outcomes in humans. And not all animal model research translates very well. Shah et al have carefully and elegantly defined the mechanisms and mediators that promote ductal patency and closure over many years in animal models and preterm infants. The use of indomethacin or ibuprofen to close the ductus arteriosis or prostaglandin infusions to keep the ductus open are superb examples of the application of physiology to human disease. In mice, platelets are required to maintain ductal closure following birth. In this issue of The Journal, Shah et al report that, in contrast to mice, there is no correlation between platelet counts and ductal closure with indomethacin in preterm infants. So be it. Article page 919▶ Relationship between Circulating Platelet Counts and Ductus Arteriosus Patency after Indomethacin TreatmentThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 158Issue 6PreviewTo determine whether low platelet counts are related to the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after indomethacin treatment in preterm human infants. Full-Text PDF