Iranian South Medical Journal (Sep 2005)
QTc and QOTc intervals of neonatal electrocardiogram in prediction of hypocalcemia
Abstract
Background: Hypocalcemia is one of important issues in pediatric domain and due to its high prevalence and important complications is a critical topic in neonatology. Measuring the total or ionized serum calcium takes time and can cause a delay in decision making and starting therapy. So it would be logical to find a noninvasive and fast method for diagnosing hypocalcemia. Methods: For assessing QTc and QOTc intervals in predicting hypocalcemia in neonates, 96 newborns were serially selected, whose clinical status or disease made them prone to hypocalcemia. From these, in 31 patients hypocalcemia was documented in serum (group1), 65 patients had normal serum calcium (group 2) and 29 normal neonates were selected in a 3rd group as a control group. Results: QTc prolongation in the first and second group was 61.3 % and 7.7 %, respectively and QOTc prolongation was 45.2% and 10.8%, respectively. None of neonates in the 3rd group had QTc or QOTc prolongation (P>0.001). Sensitivity and specificity for QTc was 61.3% and 92% respectively and for QOTc was 45% and 89.5% respectively. Conclusion: QTc and QOTc intervals could be used as a noninvasive fast and precise method for detecting hypocalcemia and starting treatment until the results of biochemical calcium measurement could be available
