Serum calcium (ca t) potassium (IC), magnesium (mg") and blood
glucose were determined at birth, 24 hours and 48 hours after birth in 51
asphyxiated term newborns as well as 15 healthy controls of matched age
& sex. Serum ca' and blood glucose were significantly lower in the
asphyxiated group than in the control group at birth and at 24 hours after
birth. To the contrary, serum IC and rne+ were significantly higher in the
asphyxiated neonates than in the control group at the same age periods.
More prominent changes were noticed in the severe cases of birth
asphyxia in comparison with the mild and moderate cases. Blood glucose
and serum electrolytes levels were almost the same in the asphyxiated
group and the healthy controls by the end of 48 hours after birth. The
study emphasized the association between birth asphyxia and alteration
of serum calcium, potassium, magnesium & blood glucose in the first 48
hours of life which might be reflected on the outcome of these cases. |
