Affiliation:
1. Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
2. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Abstract
Background
Vitamin D has a role in minimizing the extent of neuronal cell injury and death in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
Aim
To assess the serum level of vitamin D in full-term babies with HIE.
Patients and methods
This case–control study was conducted on 40 full-term neonates. Cases were grouped into two groups: group A: 30 full-term neonates diagnosed as HIE; clinical diagnosis was based on Sarnat staging. Group B: 10 healthy full-term neonates. Patients in group A were further subdivided into three equal groups: group A1: grade I HIE, group A2: grade II HIE, and group A3: grade III HIE.
Results
The following investigations were done for groups A and B: Apgar score after 1 and 5 min, convulsions, metabolic acidosis need for respiratory support, blood urea, serum creatinine, C-reactive protein level, serum calcium levels, and 25(OH) vitamin D measurements at 12 and 72 h postnatal. Apgar score, pH, total and ionized calcium, and 25(OH)-D were significantly reduced in HIE (specially grade III), while blood urea, serum creatinine, and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in HIE neonates (grade III).
Conclusion
We could assume that the more severe the grade of HIE, the worse are the laboratory findings.