Effect of saliva from cystic fibrosis patients and from normal subjects on red blood cell sodium transport.

Saliva, whether taken from patients with cystic fibrosis or from normal subjects, caused an increase in red blood cell Na+ efflux (in the presence or absence of ouabain) of 19-29% as compared with non-saliva controls. However, there was no significant difference between the effects of cystic fibrosis saliva and normal saliva.