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Relationship Between Serum Lithium, Salivary Lithium, and Urinary Lithium in Patients on Lithium Therapy

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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.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for funding the study (grant no. 3/2/2010-2PG-Thesis-MPD-3).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. J N Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

    Sindhu Jayasimha Shetty, Prakash B. Desai, Nanasaheb M. Patil & Raghavendra Bheemappa Nayak

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  1. Sindhu Jayasimha Shetty
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  2. Prakash B. Desai
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  3. Nanasaheb M. Patil
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  4. Raghavendra Bheemappa Nayak
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Correspondence to Sindhu Jayasimha Shetty.

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Shetty, S.J., Desai, P.B., Patil, N.M. et al. Relationship Between Serum Lithium, Salivary Lithium, and Urinary Lithium in Patients on Lithium Therapy. Biol Trace Elem Res 147, 59–62 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9295-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9295-3

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