title: Clinical applications of salivary cortisol measurements.
abstract: The clinical applications of salivary cortisol measurements were evaluated by radioimmunoassay of time-matched saliva and plasma samples. Salivary cortisol levels of normal subjects exhibited a significant (p less than 0.001) diurnal variation with a mean (+/- SD) concentration of 8.7 +/- 4.8 nmol/L at 0800-1000 h and 2.4 +/- 1.1 nmol/l at 1500-1700 h. After an overnight dexamethasone suppression test, morning salivary cortisol levels decrease to 2.7 +/- 0.7 nmol/L (p less than 0.001 vs normal). An excellent correlation (r = 0.805) of cortisol measurements with time-matched saliva and plasma samples was obtained (y = 0.03x + 0.88, p less than 0.001, n = 91). Hypercortisolism was confirmed by raised salivary cortisols in only half of patients with elevated total plasma levels, thereby indicating that salivary cortisol measurements is a better index of adrenal status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Azmy
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Khalid
mesh_terms: D000304:Adrenal Cortex Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone