Patient's question:
What is the differential diagnosis of neonatal hypocalcemia? What are the main causes of neonatal hypocalcemia? Please help me out and let me know. Thank you.Doctor's answer:
After a newborn is born, the mother's calcium source suddenly stops, and blood calcium levels begin to decline. The normal total calcium concentration in the blood is 2.5 millimoles per liter (10 milligrams per liter). Hypocalcemia is one of the important causes of convulsions in the neonatal period. At this time, the total calcium in the blood is lower than 1.75~2 millimoles per liter (7.0~8.0 milligrams per liter), or free calcium is lower than 0.9 millimoles per liter (3.5 milligrams per liter).