Serum calcium concentrations and incidence of hypocalcemia in infants with moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: Effect of therapeutic hypothermia.

Background: Hypocalcemia is a common morbidity in asphyxiated infants. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH), the standard of care for infants with moderate and severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), promotes neuroprotection by several mechanisms including a decrease in intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) influx which may improve serum Ca(2+) levels and homeostasis.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of TH on Ca(2+) homeostasis.

The effect of the implementation of therapeutic hypothermia on fluid balance and incidence of hyponatremia in neonates with moderate or severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

Aim: To investigate the effect of the therapeutic hypothermia (TH), used in infants with moderate or severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), on fluid balance and incidence of hyponatremia.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of moderate and severe HIE infants before (pre) and after (post) TH implementation. Daily fluid and electrolytes intake/output were collected from the medical records of each patient from day 1 to day 4 of life.