Electrolyte status in birth asphyxia.
OBJECTIVE
To study electrolyte status in asphyxiated newborns of different severity in early neonatal period and compare with controls.


METHODS
Sodium, potassium and total calcium levels were estimated in the serum samples of asphyxiated newborns of different severity and control group immediately after birth.


RESULTS
Mean serum sodium level was significantly lower (122.1 +/- 6.0 mEq/L vs 138.8 +/- 2.7 mEq/L; P < 0.001), mean serum potassium was higher (5.05 +/- 0.63 mEq/L vs 4.19 +/- 0.40 mEq/L; P < 0.001) and mean serum calcium level was found lower (6.85 +/- 0.95 mg/dl vs 9.50 +/- 0.51 mg/dl; P < 0.001) in cases than controls. Among cases, a strong positive linear correlation was found between the serum sodium, serum calcium levels and their Apgar scores, between sodium levels and total calcium levels and significant negative linear correlation between Apgar scores and serum potassium level.


CONCLUSIONS
Among cases, hyponatremia and hypocalcemia developed early and simultaneously and the decrease in their serum levels was directly proportional to each other and to the degree of asphyxia. Though, mean potassium level was within the normal limit, the value was higher among cases than controls and directly proportional to asphyxia.
Basu
Pallab
P
Department of Biochemistry, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. basu_pallab@yahoo.co.in
Som
Sabyasachi
S
Das
Harendranath
H
Choudhuri
Nabendu
N
D001034:Apgar Score; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium