title: Salivary anticonvulsant levels in children: a comparison of methods.
abstract: Levels of the anticonvulsant drugs phenobarbitone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and primidone were measured in the plasma and saliva of 202 epileptic children (5 months-18 years old). Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and EMIT immunoassay were used to analyse the samples. Saliva to plasma ratios were as follows (means +/- SD). phenobarbitone: GLC, 0.30 +/- 0.05 (r = 0.94); EMIT, 0.31 +/- 0.06 (r = 0.92); phenytoin: GLC, 0.11 +/- 0.02 (r = 0.94); EMIT, 0.12 +/- 0.04 (r = 0.86); carbamazepine: GLC, 0.26 +/- 0.05 (r = 0.91); EMIT, 0.25 +/- 0.06 (r = 0.83); primidone: GLC, 1.04 +/- 0.24 (r = 0.94); EMIT, 0.95 +/- 0.20 (r = 0.98). There was good agreement between the two methods, and the ratios obtained are the same as those found for adults.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants