Prophylaxis against hypocalcemia in low-birth-weight infants requiring bicarbonate infusion.
Forty-eight low-birth-weight infants with varying degrees of respiratory distress were studied with respect to serum calcium concentration and urinary calcium excretion. Serum calcium decreased over the 24-hour study period in infants who did not receive calcium infusion. The decrease was greater in those receiving bicarbonate therapy for acidosis. Continuous calcium infusion at 1 mg/kg/hr sustained relatively normal serum calcium concentration, even in those infants who required bicarbonate. Since the changes in estimated extracellular calcium could not be accounted for by urinary excretion, a shift of calcium into bone was postulated.
D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy
D001639:Bicarbonates; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium