پزشکی بالینی ابن سینا (Dec 2005)
Determination of Prophylactic Calcium Gluconate Injection Efficacy in Prevention of Preterm Infants Hypocalcemia
Abstract
Introduction & Objective: Hypocalcemia is a common metabolic disorder during neonatal period that affects up to 30% of preterm infants. Hypocalcemia has significant importance because it exaggerate several serious neonatal problems such as intraventricular hemorrhage, and their long term complications such as mental retardation and physical disability. Materials & Methods : We conducted a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial study of 80 preterm infants to examine the effect of calcium gluconate infusion to prevent neonatal hypocalcemia.These infants were randomly divided in two groups of 40 each. Over 60 minutes of birth, blood sample was taken and then were received an intravenous infusion of either calcium gluconate (100 mg/kg) or placebo (normal saline solution), and total serum calcium concentration was measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours after birth. Results: After assessment of the results, 16 hypocalcemic infants were found in the group that received calcium gluconate and 22 instances in the control group. Conclusion: We concluded that a single dose infusion of calcium gluconate in preterm infants isnchr('39')t effective in prevention of symptomatic or asymptomatic early neonatal hypocalcemia (even tough from clinical view is effective), as well as decreasing the duration of infantchr('39')s hospitalization.
