B. Ravichander, Sreemayee Kundu
BACKGROUND Hyperbilirubinaemia is one of the most common sign encountered in newborns. Untreated, severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia is potentially neurotoxic. Phototherapy is the first line of treatment in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Phototherapy has potential complications like dehydration, electrolyte and haematological changes, etc. Limited studies on magnesium changes after giving phototherapy. Hence, present study to find out magnesium level changes after double surface phototherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS It is a hospital-based prospective comparative study in the Department of Paediatrics in MVJ MC and RH. The study included admitted 30 term and 30 late preterm neonates who are subjected to phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Parameters were checked at 0 hours (before starting phototherapy) and after 48 hours of phototherapy. Sample at 0 hours was taken as control group and sample at 48 hours was taken as study group. Comparative study was done between the 2 groups to determine the changes. Results correlated according to duration of phototherapy, weight changes and changes in serum magnesium level. RESULTS In term neonates, mean total bilirubin was 15.52 ± 1.081 mg/dL before phototherapy and 9.893 ± 1.042 mg/dL after phototherapy. In late preterm neonates, mean total bilirubin was 15.08 ± 1.128 mg/dL before phototherapy and 9.5 ± 0.841 mg/dL after phototherapy. In term neonates, mean total magnesium was 2.317 ± 0.197 mg/dL before phototherapy and 1.917 ± 0.204 mg/dL after phototherapy. In late preterm neonates, mean total magnesium was 2.513 ± 0.206 mg/dL before phototherapy and 1.923 ± 0.198 mg/dL after phototherapy. The differences were statistically significant. With phototherapy, there was decrease in the bilirubin level as well as magnesium level in both term and preterm neonates. CONCLUSION Hyperbilirubinaemia can result in damage to brain and other tissues due to increased bilirubin levels. Phototherapy decreases bilirubin level with simultaneous decrease in magnesium level. Positive correlation present between bilirubin and magnesium level. Neonatologists need to be aware of this situation and consider magnesium supplements, if it is too low.
