Abstract Views :171 |
Authors
Source
NIMHANS Journal, Vol 6, No 1 (1988), Pagination: 29-33
Abstract
Lithium levels were determined in serum and saliva samples from 26 patients on lithium therapy using flamephotometric and atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods. No significant differences were observed ion comparing the results obtained by these two methods of estimation. Further, the correlation between lithium levels in serum and mixed saliva showed a mean ratio of 1 : 2.25, with an overall correlation coefficient ( r ) of 0.63 ( p <0.001). The relationship using linear regression analysis was described by the equation, y=1.36x + 0.63. Although statistically significant correlation was obtained between serum and mixed saliva lithium concentrations, there was an unacceptably high individual variation of paired results. Serially paired results in individual patients also showed occasional wide variations. The findings from the present study do not support the suggestion that saliva can be safely used as a substitute for serum to monitor lithium therapy.
Keywords
Salivary Lithium, Serum Lithium, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
