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Phototherapy Induced Hypocalcemia in Term and Preterm Neonates with Hyperbilirubinemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Drishti Poudel1,2, Sunil Tamang3, Jamuna Neupane2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Nepal APF Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, Nepal.

JNMA; Journal of the Nepal Medical Association
|March 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice lowers calcium levels in both term and preterm infants. Preterm infants showed a higher incidence of hypocalcemia, a potential complication of this common treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

  • Neonatal jaundice affects a majority of newborns, with phototherapy as the standard treatment.
  • Hypocalcemia is a potential complication of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
  • This study investigates phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia in term and preterm neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the incidence of hypocalcemia after 48 hours of phototherapy in late preterm and term neonates.
  • To assess the impact of phototherapy on serum calcium levels in newborns with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital's NICU.
  • 150 term and preterm neonates requiring at least 48 hours of phototherapy were enrolled.
  • Data on serum calcium levels were collected before and after phototherapy and analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Serum calcium levels decreased in both term and preterm neonates after 48 hours of phototherapy.
  • The mean decrease in calcium was 0.87 mg/dL in term and 1.16 mg/dL in preterm neonates.
  • Hypocalcemia occurred in 21.30% of term and 34.40% of preterm neonates.

Conclusions:

  • Phototherapy leads to a reduction in serum calcium levels in both term and preterm infants.
  • Exploratory findings suggest a potentially higher risk of hypocalcemia in preterm neonates.
  • Further research is needed to confirm subgroup differences due to study power limitations.
Abstract

Keywords:
hypocalcemianeonatal hyperbilirubinemiaphototherapy

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