Low serum calcium (< 9 mg/dl) and inorganic phosphorus (< 4 mg/dl) levels were detected in 25% and 30% respectively of patients with cirrhosis. Hypocalcemia was present more significantly in patients with hypoalbuminemia. Hypophosphatemia was observed more often in hypocalcemic cirrhotics (44.5%) than in normocalcemics. Although hypovitaminosis D was shown in 4 patients, obvious rickets was not present in any of our cases by x-ray examination of the wrists.

Keywords: childhood cirrhosis, serum calcium level, serum phosphorus level