title: Comparison of electrolyte concentrations in whole saliva of individuals with and without cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations in whole saliva of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and compare them with those of normal individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six adolescents with CP aged 12.0 +/- 1.8 years were compared with 36 healthy age-matched individuals. Saliva was collected under slight suction. Electrolyte concentrations were determined by inductively coupled argon plasma with atomic emission spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed with matched and unmatched flow rates. Sodium concentrations were significantly decreased, whereas potassium levels were significantly increased in the CP group. No statistically significant differences were observed regarding phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium concentrations between adolescents with CP and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that there is an alteration in the sodium and potassium concentration in whole saliva of individuals with CP.
authors: Oral Biology Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil. siqueira@bu.edu
authors: Walter Luiz
authors: WL
authors: Siqueira
authors: Maria Teresa Botti
authors: MT
authors: Rodrigues Santos
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: De Oliveira
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Nicolau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D010758:Phosphorus; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium