Hypocalcemia in jaundiced neonates receiving phototherapy

Objective: To determine the frequency of hypocalcemia in term neonates with jaundice receiving phototherapy.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted at Neonatal intensive care unit, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi from 1st January 2014 to 30th December 2014. A total of 123 term neonates with jaundice of either gender managed by phototherapy were enrolled in the study. Gestational age was assessed through modified Ballard scoring. Duration of phototherapy was recorded. A sample of 3 ml of blood was sent to the laboratory for serum calcium level before initiating phototherapy and after 24 hours of continued phototherapy. All the data were recorded in the preformed proforma. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19. P value <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: The mean age of the neonates was 8.35±6.74 days .Mean gestational age at the time of birth was 39.08±1.37 weeks. Mean duration of jaundice was 2.4±1.20 days. Mean duration of phototherapy was 1.74±0.98 days. Serum calcium level before and after 24 hours of initiating phototherapy was 8.73±0.68 mg/dl and 7.47±0.82mg/dl respectively Frequency of hypocalcemia in term jaundiced neonates receiving phototherapy were observed in 22.76% (28/123).

Conclusions: The frequency of hypocalcemia is significant in the jaundiced neonates treated with phototherapy. One needs to be vigilant in dealing neonates in this context while serial monitoring for hypocalcemia and its complications should be considered in institutional policy and research priority.