Serum calcium and 25-OH-D3 in mothers of newborns with craniotabes.
Serum calcium and 25-OH-D3 in mothers of newborns with craniotabes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether calcium or vitamin D balance during late pregnancy have influence on the outcome of newborn craniotabes. 27 mothers and their fullterm newborns with craniotabes in two series were studied for clinical findings, course of pregnancy and calcium and vitamin D metabolism after the pregnancy. Calcium and phosphorus balance were studied in the first 16 mother-newborn pairs and were studied in the first 16 mother-newborn pairs and compared to a control group. Serum 25-OH-D3 concentrations were determined in the next 11 pairs and compared to a control group delivering in the same season and also to unpregnant women. The course of pregnancy did not show retrospectively any significant alterations and the clinical findings except craniotabes of the newborns were normal. In four cases the fetal head was engaged before 33th of gestation. In mothers serum calcium level was lower (p less than 0.05) and the excretion of phosphorus decreased (p less than 0.05) after the pregnancy as compared to controls. The values of serum 25-OH-D3 were at the same level in mothers and newborns with craniotabes as compared to controls but the values of mothers were lower (p less than 0.001) as compared to unpregnant controls In conclusion, craniotabes of the newborns seems to have no unique etiologic factor. The changes of calcium and vitamin D metabolism during pregnancy may be considered as predisposing factors in some cases and early engagement in some other. Perhaps also other reasons can be found.