title: Nineteen cases of symptomatic neonatal hypocalcemia secondary to vitamin D deficiency: a 2-year study.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency can develop very early in infancy, and be characterized by severe hypocalcemic symptoms. This study was done to determine the relation between symptomatic hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency in newborn infants and their mothers in the state of Qatar. This is a retrospective study for all newborns presented to the Pediatric Emergency Centers in Qatar with symptomatic hypocalcemia from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007. Nineteen newborn infants during the study period presented with symptomatic hypocalcemia. Vitamin D deficiency with or without relative hypoparathyroidism was the attributed cause. Vitamin D deficiency in newborn infants secondary to maternal vitamin D deficiency leading to hypocalcemic symptoms is not uncommon in the state of Qatar. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation in pregnant and lactating mothers in the state of Qatar should be considered after proper screening.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Pediatric Emergency Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Fathi Hassan
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Teaema
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al Ansari
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011780:Qatar; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium