EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC DRUG-MONITORING OF METHOTREXATE IN SALIVA OF CHILDREN WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Pediatric patients with leukemia, other malignancies, and rheumatologi cal disease receive methotrexate chronically. Because of the documente d correlation between methotrexate levels of compliance and clinical o utcome, it is conceivable to verify appropriate systemic exposure to t he drug. Saliva sampling may be of potential interest, especially in c hildren, in whom blood sampling is ethically limited. Our study shows poor correlation between serum total/free methotrexate concentrations and saliva levels, precluding the clinical use of this test.