title: Relationship between serum lithium, salivary lithium, and urinary lithium in patients on lithium therapy.
abstract: Lithium carbonate is used in the treatment of both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between serum lithium, salivary lithium, and urinary lithium. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were collected from 50 patients, and estimation of serum, salivary, and urine lithium was done using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean serum lithium was 0.75 ± 0.25 mEq/L, mean salivary lithium was 1.91 ± 0.80 mEq/L, and mean urine lithium was 7.16 ± 4.84 mEq/L. A significant direct correlation was found between serum lithium and salivary lithium (r = 0.695, p < 0.001). This correlation was higher in females (r = 0.770, p < 0.001) when compared to males (r = 0.665, p < 0.001). Even though a significant correlation was found between serum and salivary lithium levels, more studies are needed in this domain to establish salivary therapeutic monitoring as a feasible option for patients on lithium carbonate therapy.
authors.affiliation: J N Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India. shettysindhuj@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sindhu Jayasimha
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Prakash B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Nanasaheb M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Raghavendra Bheemappa
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Nayak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008094:Lithium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium