Hypocalcaemia Occurring Within Forty-Eight Hours Of Birth In Term Infants With Severe Birth Asphyxia

Abstract

In this cross-sectional study, total serum calcium of 31 term infants with 1-minute Apgar score of 3 or less was measured and compared with those of their counterparts with 1-minute Apgar score of 7 and above. The total serum calcium of severely asphyxiated infants who had sodium bicarbonate administered during resuscitation was compared with those of their counterparts without sodium bicarbonate therapy. Infants with birth asphyxia were examined serially from time of birth and compared with their counterparts without birth asphyxia. Overall prevalence of early-onset neonatal hypocalcaemia (total serum calcium < 1.75 mmol/L) among infants with severe birth asphyxia was 22.6%. Mean total serum calcium at the ages of 12, 24 and 48 hours were significantly lower among asphyxiated compared to non-asphyxiated infants (p