Hypocalcaemic Tetany Developing within 36 Hours of Birth

Calcium and Phosphorus Homeostasis on the First Day of Life

“…Neonatal hypocalcemia (NHC) occurs frequently in prematures but is also seen in full-term babies, especially after com plicated pregnancy and/or delivery. The P in these cases is variable [2,8,9].The following study was undertaken to clarify further the partic ular problems of the first day of life. In 53 newborn babies the serum and urine values of Ca and P and creatinine were measured and the phosphate clearance was calculated in the usual way UV/P1 (U = urinary concentration, V =urine volume, Pl=plasma concentration).…”

Neuromotor Performance in the Newborn Infant: an Attempt at Clinicochemical Correlation on the First Day of Life

“…By way of re b u ttal one m ust note that. Craig (16) failed to observe a positive sign in any of his series of 26 infants w ith hypocalcemic tetan y .…”

“…Although they observed good correlation in the full-term infant, Bruck and Weintraub (5) were able to relate only convulsions w ith hypocalcemia in th e p rem ature infant. Craig (9,16) describing early newborn tetan y , particularly in infants born of diabetic m others, found cor relation in m ost bu t not all subjects. Most intriguing observations were those of Gillleman at al.…”

“…W hat effect varied feeding regimens and environm ental stim uli m ay have on m etabolism and neurom otor function would hopefully he elim in ated or dim inished. Finally, it has been well docum ented th a t a peak incidence of neonatal te ta n y exists during the first days as well as at the end of the first week (9,11,16).…”

Neonatal Tetany: A Report of 125 Cases and Review of the Literature

“…Gittleman and P in cu s (44) show ed th a t certa in f a c to rs : n am e ly , a b n o rm al lab o r, cesarean section an d p re m a tu rity w ere com m only associated w ith h y p o calcem ia alth o u g h none o f th e ir p a tie n ts h a d th e syn d ro m e o f n e o n a ta l te ta n y . Craig, et al (45) o b serv ed th a t th ese facto rs w ere o p e ra tiv e in te ta n y occurring w ith in th e first 36 h o u rs o f b irth . T hese tra u m a tic factors w ere associated w ith th e te ta n ic syn d ro m e in 66 p er ce n t of th e cases in th is series w hich lends su p p o rt to th e asso ciation of n eo n atal te ta n y w ith hypocalcem ia.…”