Maria Hassan, Iffat Batool, Hasan Mujtaba, Muhammad Mohsin Javaid.
Serum calcium levels as biomarkers of birth asphyxia in neonates.
Biomedica Jan ;38(4):214-8.

Background and objective: Birth asphyxia is a common pathological condition seen in newborns with increased morbidity and mortality. Grave consequences following birth asphyxia require earlier recognition of the precipitating factors and prompt treatment in intensive care units. Multiple electrolyte imbalance has been related to this condition. This study aimed at determining the mean serum total calcium levels in neonates with birth asphyxia. Methods: This cross sectional study was performed at the neonatal intensive care unit of the Pediatric Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan over a period of 6 months. A total of 100 full-term neonates of either gender with evidence of birth asphyxia of any stage were enrolled on their first hour of birth. Serum calcium levels were estimated in each neonate at 24 hours after birth. Results: A total of 60 (60%) neonates were males. Mean serum calcium levels were found to be 7.64 mg/dl ± 0.59 with no significant difference among males and females (7.67 ± 0.٦٤ and ٧.5٩ ± 0.50 mg/dl, respectively). Neonatal distribution in Stages I, II, and III was 64 (64.0%), 23 (23.0%), and 13 (13.0%), respectively. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy stage stratification with mean serum calcium levels with higher stages deciphered significant correlation (7.89 ± 0.54, 7.36 ± 0.28, and 6.88 ± 0.28 mg/dl, respectively, in stage I, II, and III). Conclusion: Markedly decreased levels of mean serum calcium were seen in higher hypoxic stages with ischemic encephalopathy hence delineating a linear correlation with the onset and progression of disease.

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