title: Saliva lithium: a poor predictor of plasma and erythrocyte levels.
abstract: Lithium levels were measured in plasma, erythrocytes and saliva in 28 patients to determine the accuracy of saliva lithium as a predictor of plasma and erythrocyte levels. The range and mean lithium levels (mmol/L) found in the three compartments were as follows: plasma, mean = 0.72, range 0.17-1.33; erythrocyte, mean = 0.33, range 0.03-0.7; saliva, mean = 1.21, range 0.36-3.9. High levels of inter-individual and intra-individual variation were found in plasma/saliva and erythrocyte/saliva lithium level ratios. We recommended that saliva lithium measurements should not be used to monitor lithium therapy.
authors: Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: McKeage
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Maling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium