Relationship Between Neonatal Hypocalcemia and Q-oTc Interval

ABSTRACT

A study has been conducted to see the relationship between Q-oTc interval and neonatal hypocalcemia study group consists of 75 Newborns(full-Term 57, premature 18), whose conditions were Known to be susceptable to the development of hypocalcemia and all of them were admitted to the newborn service of Kyungpook National University Hospital during 6 months period from February to August, 1978. Following results were obtainod 1. Overall incidence of hypocalcemia was 32%, with highest rate of 70% occurring in high-risk premature group, and 3 out of 4 cases with sever hypocalcemia, defined as serum calcium level below 5mg% were noted inpremature group. There was no sexual difference. 2. cardinal sympotoms were irritability and convulsion,. Convlsion was seen in all cases with severe hypocalcemiam compared to 41% with serum calcium level above 5mg%, subtle type of seizure was the commoest form, occurring in 8 cases, followed by generalized tonic type and multifocal type 3. O-oTc interval was prolonged in 83.4% of hypocalcemia and Q-Tc interval only in 37.5%, There was statistically significant correlation between Q-oTc and serum calcium level, showing = -0.41(P<0.01) in premature and = -0.47(P<0.01)in full term. In summary, we recommend Q-oTc interval as a quick and reliable screening test to detect hypocalcemia in newborn period.