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The effect of phototherapy on urinary calcium excretion in term neonates

Afshin Safaei Asl1, Marjaneh Zarkeshl2, Abtin Heidarzadeh3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation : an Official Publication of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Saudi Arabia
|May 25, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia did not significantly alter urinary calcium levels in term infants. This common treatment, while effective, does not appear to cause hypocalcemia by increasing calcium excretion.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Phototherapy is the primary treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice).
  • Hypocalcemia is a potential, though less recognized, complication of phototherapy.
  • Previous research suggests a link between phototherapy, increased urinary calcium excretion, and hypocalcemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of phototherapy on urinary calcium excretion in term neonates.
  • To determine if phototherapy leads to hypocalcemia by affecting calcium levels in urine.

Main Methods:

  • A before-and-after study involving 80 term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.
  • Measurement of serum and urinary calcium and sodium levels, and urinary creatinine before and after 48 hours of phototherapy.
  • Electrocardiography (QTc interval) was performed to assess for hypocalcemia.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant difference was observed in urinary calcium levels or the calcium/creatinine ratio before and after phototherapy (P=0.0001 for urinary calcium, P=0.086 for Ca/Cr ratio).
  • Urinary creatinine levels also showed no significant change (P=0.954).
  • Plasma and urinary sodium levels did not differ significantly before and after treatment (P=0.658).

Conclusions:

  • Phototherapy, while potentially increasing urinary calcium excretion, did not lead to significant hypocalcemia in this cohort of term neonates.
  • The study suggests that phototherapy does not cause hypocalcemia through significant alterations in urinary calcium excretion.

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