[Serum ionic calcium in the early neonatal period in premature and small-for-gestational-age infants]

Abstract

We determined the value of serum ionic calcium in premature infants of different gestational age and infants small for gestational age, on the first and the 3rd day after the birth. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of hypocalcemia and to confirm the hypothesis that the food for newborns should be calcium supplemented which would prevent poor postnatal bone mineralization. The subjects were divided into two groups: premature infants from 28 to 32 and from 32 to 36 gestational weeks. The third group consisted of intrauterine retarded newborns. The highest ionic calcium level was found in the intrauterine retarded newborns (1.30 on the first and 1.025 on the third day). High percentage (30%) of hypocalcemia was detected in premature infants from 28 to 32 gestational weeks. The high percentage of hypocalcemia in premature infants of smaller gestational age points to the need for calcium supplemented food which would prevent poor postnatal bone mineralization.