ABSTRACT
Background: Hypocalcemia is a frequently observed clinical and laboratory abnormality in neonates with risk factors such as prematurity, infant of diabetic mothers and perinatal asphyxia. Hypocalcemia can be asymptomatic or can cause apnoea, seizures, jitteriness, stridor, cardiac abnormalities. Clinically as calcium levels are maintained within narrow ranges. It is therefore imperative to measure and correct any deficit at the earliest. Unfortunately, total serum calcium level correlates poorly with ionized calcium level. Measurement of ionized calcium is both time consuming and expensive and therefore the need for more rapid, inexpensive and non-invasive method for screening at risk-neonates. Serum calcium levels are known to affect the duration of the QoTc interval. Therefore establishing a good correlation between serum/ionized calcium levels and QoTc will validate ECG as a reliable marker of hypocalcemia. Objective was to find correlation between QoTc interval and serum calcium levels in sick neonates.Methods: Total 730 infants were for serum total calcium and ionized calcium levels. Off these 142 infants with hypocalcemia, 29 infants were excluded based on exclusion criteria. The remaining 113 neonates were subjected to three cycles of ECG measurement before correction of calcium and were taken as cases. QoTc intervals were measured and were correlated with corresponding serum total calcium and ionized calcium levels.Results: In this study, a moderate negative or downhill correlation was found between total serum calcium QoT (r = -0.694 and p = <0.001) and QoTc (r = -0.680 and p = <0.001). The ionized calcium levels were found to have strong negative or downhill correlation with QoT (r = -0.837 and p = <0.001), QoTc (r = -0.819 and p = <0.001). All these correlations were found to be statistically significant with p<0.05.Conclusions: QoTc interval can be used as a surrogate marker for blood total or ionized calcium levels.
ABSTRACT
Background: Hypomagnesemia is a common finding in current medical practice, especially in critically ill patients. Magnesium ion plays a vital role in various metabolic processes in body and its deficiency leading to serious clinical consequences. Since hypomagnesemia is most often asymptomatic, it goes unsuspected and therefore undiagnosed. Hence, early detection of hypomagnesemia has prognostic and therapeutic implications. It is imperative to understand the various risk factors and their clinical outcome that is associated with hypomagnesemia.Methods: This is an observational study done in a tertiary centre in Bangalore, India where-in 100 children who met the inclusion criteria, admitted to the PICU were recruited and prospectively studied. Serum Magnesium along with various clinical and biochemical parameters were correlated to enumerate the various risk factors associated with hypomagnesemia.Results: In this study authors found the incidence of hypomagnesemia to be around 53%. Authors found higher incidence in age group of 1-5 yrs (40%) and least were in the age groups of <1 year and more than 10 years (19%) and there was no gender preponderance. Authors also evaluated the various risk factors associated with hypomagnesemia. There was significant association of hypocalcemia (60%) and hypokalemia (45.2%) with hypomagnesemia. Infections (33.9%) and neurological disorders (26.41%) seemed to collectively comprise around 60% of the hypomagnesemic group. All patients admitted secondary to sepsis and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) had hypomagnesemia proving to be a significant risk factor. Authors also found increased mortality among hypomagnesemic group. However, found no association between low serum magnesium and PICU stay.Conclusions: There is high prevalence of hypomagnesemia in critically ill patients and is associated with a higher mortality. It is also commonly associated with infections, CNS disorders, respiratory diseases and metabolic derangements like hypokalaemia and hypocalcaemia. There is no association of Hypomagnesemia with duration of PICU stay.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dengue is a mosquito borne disease of significant morbidity and mortality. Dengue viral infection has been shown to be associated with electrolyte abnormalities and renal dysfunction. It is necessary to have a thorough understanding about electrolyte disturbances in Dengue, so as to predict, diagnose and treat them accordingly. The aim and objective of this study is to study electrolyte disturbances in dengue fever and its correlation with severity of dengue fever.Methods: This study was performed in a tertiary care centre in Bangalore , India. The study was a prosspective observational study. 200 Patients diagnosed with Dengue were enrolled for the study. Patients demographic data, clinical history, electrolyte values were recorded and analysed.Results: In our study majority of patients belonged to 5-12 years age group ie 47%. Fever was found to be the most common presentation in 196 patients (98%) followed by myalgia in 142 patients (71%), headache in 102 patients (51%), skin rash in 43 patients (21.5%). The mean value of serum sodium observed was 133.69 mEq/L and of serum potassium was 3.58 mEq/L and there was positive and significant correlation between difference in serum sodium and potassium levels with severity of dengue fever.Conclusions: Dyselectrolytemia is more common in dengue fever. Serum electrolytes testing early is very important in dengue patients during management so that if abnormalities are found, they can be appropriately managed as some of these abnormalities may lead to increased severity as well as mortality.