Prevalence of Phototherapy Induced Hypocalcemia in Term Neonate

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common and in most cases benign clinical condition in neonates. Phototherapy is used for management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia[1]. Phototherapy may lead to complications including skin rash, diarrhea, hyperthermia, chills, dehydration, DNA damage to lymphocytes, retinal degeneration, bronze baby syndrome especially in cholestatic jaundice and PDA opening in LBWs and Hypocalcemia[2]. A cross sectional study was performed on 147 icteric neonates managed with phototherapy in Bahrami Hospital in Tehran from 2008 to 2009. Phototherapy was provided with four blue light fluorescent lamps (Phillips) placed at 20 cm distance from newborns. Neonates with any underlying disease or risk factors of hypocalcemia were excluded. Serum calcium and bilirubins were measured on arrival and 48 hours after phototherapy. We considered hypocalcemia as a total serum calcium of <8 mg/dl. Demographic data, bilirubin and calcium levels were recorded and analyzed by ANOVA, Banferroni and Chisquare tests. P value <0.05 was considered as significant. The study was approved by Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A written informed consent was taken from one of the parents prior to enrollment after explaining the study.