Biochemical study of whole saliva from children with chronic renal failure.

The biochemical composition of unstimulated whole saliva was studied on ten children suffering from chronic renal failure and who, at the same time, displayed a very low caries activity. Various salivary components were studied before (T) and after (To) dialysis and were compared with similar elements of a control group, as well as with blood values. A mean salivary urea concentration of 513 +/- 210 mg/100 ml was found prior to dialysis, whereas after treatment this value dropped to 241 +/- 82 mg/100 ml, about twice as much as in the control group, 110 +/- 48 mg/100 ml. The mean urea concentrations in blood at T and To were respectively 196 +/- 38 mg/100 ml and 53 +/- 22 mg/100 ml. The various free amino acids in the whole saliva of these patients showed different changes in their concentrations as a result of dialysis, with the basic amino acids being considerably increased. Blood electrolytes remained close to the normal range, although calcium was depleted and magnesium lowered by a factor of 10 when compared before and after dialysis, as well as versus the control group.