Effect of Phototherapy on the Serum Level of Calcium and Magnesium in the Infants Suffering from Jaundice

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia or Jaundice is one of the most common problems among infants. Phototherapy is one of the therapy methods. One of the effects of phototherapy, which hasn’t been dealt with too much, is hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia. In this study, we deal with studying the effect of photo therapy on the serum level of calcium and Magnesium. Methods: In this semi experimental investigation, 50 term infants suffering from Jaundice who had phototherapy indication and gaining the informative consent from their parents were included in the study. Bilirubin, calcium and Magnesium measured in their blood samples soon as they consulted for the first time and 48 hours after beginning phototherapy for the second time. However, all of the infants were normal in clinical examination and those infants suffering from cephalhematoma, sepsis, deficit G6PD or showing any symptoms of hemolysis were taken out of the study. Also, the infants born by diabetic mothers and those mothers who had received magnesium sulfate were removed from the study and the information was analyzed in the SPSS 16 with test of paired sample T-test. Results: By considering serum calcium a significant decrease was observed before phototherapy 9.85mg/dl and after phototherapy 9.51 mg/dl (P<0.001). Also, mean of serum magnesium showed 2.21mg/dl before phototherapy and 2.06mg/d1after phototherapy and decrease in the level of magnesium was also significant statistically, (P=0.047).Conclusion: The present study showed that phototherapy cann decrease the level of calcium and magnesium.

Keywords:

Phototherapy , Magnesium , Calcium , Bilirubin