title: The influence of valproic acid on salivary pH in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: The purpose of this open-label, crossover study was to measure salivary pH after the oral administration of distilled water, a 10% sucrose solution, and valproic acid to a population of 10 children with cerebral palsy. Salivary pH was measured just prior to giving the solutions and then every five minutes for 60 minutes. The critical pH was defined at 5.5, below which dental demineralization occurs. In this population, valproic acid decreased salivary pH to below the critical pH for an extended period of time (mean = 4.32 at 20 minutes) when compared to mean salivary pH after administration of distilled water (7.11 at 20 minutes) and a 10% sucrose solution (5.96 at 20 minutes). Recovery from this low pH to above the critical level did not occur until after 50 minutes and furthermore did not recover to baseline, neutral levels, for the duration of this study (60 minutes). Our results suggest that children with cerebral palsy, a population with a tendency toward reduced salivary function, have a compromised ability to buffer the oral administration of an exogenous acid. This can result in an increased susceptibility to demineralization and caries of the teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, MA, USA. wlsiqueira@gmail.com
authors.forename: Walter Luiz
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Satheesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elangovan
authors.forename: Alyne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simoes
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicolau
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D013395:Sucrose; D014635:Valproic Acid