Blood and saliva salicylate measurement in the monitoring of salicylate therapy.

Total and free plasma salicylate as well as saliva salicylate was measured in 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with different doses of acetylsalicylic acid alone. Although the clinical response was judged moderately effective to effective in all cases, total and free plasma salicylate varied markedly. Saliva salicylate correlated well with both total plasma salicylate and fre plasma salicylate. Determination of saliva salicylate may be a simple and useful technique for the monitoring of salicylate therapy.