Raised salivary endotoxin concentration as a predictor of infection in pediatric leukemia patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether salivary endotoxin could be used as a predictor of infection in pediatric patients (n = 12).


METHODS
Oropharyngeal carriage of aerobic gram-negative bacilli was monitored and salivary endotoxin concentration determined. Age-matched and gender-matched healthy children were used as controls.


RESULTS
The range of salivary endotoxin concentrations in the healthy pediatric population was similar to the range previously reported for healthy adults (0-20 ng/mL; 0-240 EU/mL).


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that salivary endotoxin was not an accurate predictor of sepsis and did not correlate with oropharyngeal carriage of aerobic gram-negative bacilli.
Millns
B
B
Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, University of Liverpool and Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, United Kingdom.
Martin
M V
MV
Williams
M C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications; D008033:Limulus Test; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004731:Endotoxins