الفهرس 
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Abstract
Summary
Phototherapy has been known as the most effective non-invasive treatment of neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Lots of studies had been conducted to study the side effects of phototherapy and few of them were concerned with its effect on calcium homeostasis.
This study was conducted in the NICUs of Ain Shams University Maternity and Children’s Hospitals. Spot urine and blood samples were collected; for measurement of Urinary Ca/Cr ratio and serum calcium levels, from 100 neonates suffering indirect hyperbilirubinemia – necessitating phototherapy – at admission and follow-up samples were collected 24 hours after the start of phototherapy. Urinary samples from 15 healthy gestational age and postnatal age matched neonates (control group) were collected for estimation of normal Urinary Ca/Cr ratio in neonates.
Our patients were 34 term and 66 preterm. They were categorized according to intensity of phototherapy used as single, double, or triple phototherapy and according to appropriateness for gestational age into AGA, SGA, and LGA.
Control group, although small, showed comparable urinary Ca/Cr ratio to other studies; ensuring its reliability.
Summary
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The study revealed significantly higher Urinary Ca/Cr ratio and significantly lower serum calcium levels in all patients 24-hours after phototherapy compared to their initial levels; despite having their initial Urinary Ca/Cr ratio comparable with controls.
Term and preterm neonates didn’t show significant differences in serum and urinary calcium; although Urinary Ca/Cr ratio after phototherapy showed significant negative correlation with gestational age.
Babies on double and triple phototherapy had significantly higher Urinary Ca/Cr ratio and lower serum calcium levels compared to single phototherapy babies.