Title: A Study of Serum Calcium Levels during First Week of Life in Normal Term Neonates
Authors: Dr Mohammad Asif, Dr Suresh Goyal, Dr Rameshwar Ninama, Dr Savita Shekhawat
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i6.39
Abstract
Introduction: Transition from foetal to neonatal life is associated with major changes in fluid and electrolyte levels due to homeostatic control.
Aims & Objective: This study was planned to study changes of serum Calcium in cord blood and during first week of life.
Material & Method:100 Normal term neonates with gestational age>37weeks & birth weight >2100gm were included in the study. Serum Calcium was studied in cord blood, 24 hrs,48 hrs, 7th day of life and mean, range & standard deviation were Calculated.
Results: The range of serum calcium in cord blood, at 24 hrs, 48 hrs & 7 days in our study was 7.9–13.2 mg/dl, 7.6–11.7 mg/dl, 7.0–11.1 mg/dl & 7.4–10.9 mg/dl respectively The levels of serum calcium found in our study showed a very wide range. In this study the mean ± SD serum calcium in cord blood, at 24 hrs, 48 hrs & 7 days was 9.9 ± 0.94 mg/dl, 9.1 ± 0.89 mg/dl, 8.9 ± 0.89 mg/dl & 9.2 ± 0.77 mg/dl respectively The trend of serum calcium in our study showed a decreasing trend till 48 hrs with a rise at 7 days but it remains to a level below cord calcium values.
Summary: This study showed very wide range of serum Calcium levels that seems to be abnormally high or low in healthy term neonate in cord blood and during first week of life but these were actually normal for that neonatal period depending upon gestational and post natal age. Serum Calcium levels fall till 48 hours of life to rise again till 7 day of life in healthy term neonate which shows that serum calcium undergo a physiological nadir at around 48 hrs of life.
Conclusion: The normal values of Serum Calcium in neonates are different from other age groups and it varies with postnatal age and gestational age so same refrence range of electrolytes should not be used in all neonates instead a refrence range derived from large neonatal datasets of varied gestational and postnatal age should be used, such as those presented here for healthy term neonates.
Keywords: Serum Calcium, term neonates, cord blood, foetal transition, homeostasis.
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