Effects of cardiac glycosides on the composition of whole-mixed human saliva

Abstract

Electrolyte levels were measured in whole-mixed human saliva collected from cardiology out-patients, to investigate any salivary electrolyte changes occurring in such patients after digitalization. Several recent reports have indicated that clinical symptoms of digitalis intoxication were associated with increased saliva concentrations of K+ and/or Ca++. Because salivary glands contain a highly active Na+, K+-ATPase it seemed logical that these and other salivary electrolytes might be predictably affected by the circulating levels of digitalis. Patients receiving digitoxin (Dtxn) had a higher concentration of Salivary K+ and Ca++ (25.8 ± 2.2 and 2.2 ± 0.2 meq/l, respectively), than the controls not receiving cardiac glycosides (20.1 ± 1.4 and 2.0 ± 0.1 meq/1, respectively). A similar pattern was not found for patients receiving digoxin (Dxn), although the mean Ca++ concentration for females in this group was significantly elevated (control: 1.7 ± 0.2; Dxn: 2.4 ± 0.2 meq/1). The mean serum concentration (ng/ml) of Dtxn was 20.3 ± 1. 9; of Dxn, 1.4 ± 0.2. No change was found in P04, and protein concentrations, or in salivary flow rates between control and experimental groups. The results suggest that salivary electrolyte changes occur after digitalization, but that these changes do not adequately reflect the serum level of digitalis in individual patients. This study was supported in part by PHS 80l-RR5312.