Abstract :
Introduction: The current study was planned to study the change in calcium, magnesium and electrolytes
levels after phototherapy in neonatal jaundice.
Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 50 neonates requiring photo therapy for neonatal
jaundice. Ethical clearance and written informed consent was obtained from parents of the neonates
prior to the conduct of the study. Details regarding gestational age, mode of delivery, birth weight were
collected. 3ml of blood sample was collected before initializing phototherapy and 48 hrs after initializing
phototherapy from the neonates. The dose and duration of phototherapy was noted. Total and direct
bilirubin, serum calcium, magnesium and electrolytes were estimated.
Results: The study included 50 new-born babies of which 48% were girl child and 52% were boy child.
The mean gestational age of the mothers were 36.72 1.8 weeks and the age of the study subjects was 3.54
1.6 days. The phototherapy was given for a mean duration of 1.70.46 days. The average birth weight
of the neonates was 2.73 0.49 kg. There was decrease in the level of serum calcium (0.58 0.02 mg/dL),
magnesium (0.38 0.03 mg/ dL), sodium (1.28 0.01 mmol/L) after phototherapy. 13 neonates(26%)
developed hypocalcemia following phototherapy. The incidence of hyponatremia in the study was 18%.
Conclusion: The present study clinches that the photo therapy leads to decrease in the levels of serum
calcium, magnesium, sodium. The decrease in calcium levels were more in low birth weight and preterm
babies.
Keyword :
Phototherapy, Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, Calcium, Magnesium, Electrolytes.