Saliva Calcium and Potassium Concentrations in the Detection of Digitalis Toxicity

Abstract

Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 118 subjects: 36 were not receiving digitalis; 40 received digitalis but were nontoxic; 14 were digitalis-toxic; 24 had impaired renal function; and four subjects were followed during the administration of digitalis. Saliva calcium and potassium products in the digitalis-toxic group were significantly higher than in the nontoxic group. Subjects with impaired renal function had a significantly higher saliva calcium and potassium product than those with normal renal function. The subjects followed during the administration of digoxin showed an apparent correlation between electrocardiogram changes and an elevated saliva calcium and potassium product. This study has demonstrated that a whole-saliva calcium and potassium product over 300 in subjects on digoxin with normal renal function correlates with a diagnosis of digitalis toxicity.