ASSESSMENT OF 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 Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from 1st January 2017 to 30th December 2017.  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 3ml 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.