الفهرس 
Introduction
Introduction Source of BilirubinOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 126 |  |  |
| | | from | 126 | | |
Abstract
Jaundice is one of the most common and annoying problem that can occur in the newborn. Although most jaundiced infants recover without any serious problems, there is always a risk of bilirubin encephalopathy during the period of hyperbilirubinemia.
Phototherapy is now considered to be the standard form of management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Phototherapy though gradual in reduction of serum bilirubin level, is highly, effective and rebound hyperbilirubinemia after phototherapy is relatively rare. Yet neonates treated with phototherapy may suffer from side effects e.g. skin rash, loose stool, hyperthermia, fluid loses and a less known but potential complication of phototherapy is hypocalcemia.
The present study was conducted for assessment of (Serum Ca, Mg, Na, K) in neonates treated with phototherapy. It was conducted on 60 jaundiced neonates (30 full term and 30 preterm) presenting with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia treated with phototherapy.
Newborn infants with neonatal jaundice who were managed with exchange transfusion were excluded. Also any infant suffering from neonatal hypocalcemia before phototherapy, respiratory distress, transient tachypnea of newborn, infant of diabetic mother, neonatal sepsis and congenital anomalies, were excluded. In addition 30 healthy neonates, age and sex matched were selected as a control,
All of the cases of the study were subjected to complete history taking, through physical examination and the following laboratory investigation total serum calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels before and 48 hours after phototherapy. Serum bilirubin level was also measured before and after phototherapy.
This study revealed a high statistically significant decrease in total serum calcium in both full term and preterm jaundiced neonates after 48 hours on phototherapy and highly statistically significant increase in serum magneSIUm.
Based on this study, we conclude that hypocalcemia can be induced by phototherapy during treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with significant decrease in the mean total serum calcium in preterm as compared to the full term.
Yet, it is very impOliant to mention that, hypocalcemia in these cases was on laboratory basis with (mild non-specific) manifestations. Also elevation in serum magnesium was only on laboratory basis with no obvious clinical manifestations. Accordingly, we recommend assessment of calcium level in cases of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia treated with phototherapy for more than 48 hours and manage these cases accordingly.