DETERMINATION OF DEXAMETHASONE IN SALIVA

We conducted experiments to demonstrate that the determination of dexa methasone in saliva is a valuable tool to assess dexamethasone concent rations in the body after administration of this synthetic corticoster oid, After extraction of saliva, a RIA involving highly specific comme rcially available antibodies mas established and evaluated, This RIA w as easy to conduct, reliable, and sensitive enough to measure dexameth asone until similar to 24 h after oral administration of 1 mg per 70 k g of body weight. On the morning after the administration, the mean co ncentration in saliva was 540 pmol/L. Over a large range (10(3)-10(6) pmol/L), plasma concentrations correlated very well with salivary conc entrations; plasma contained six times more dexamethasone than saliva.