Assessment and Correlation of Uric Acid Concentration in Saliva and Serum of Patients Attending Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background

Serum uric acid (UA) is associated with many health conditions, including renal, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Diagnosis and monitoring often require painful invasive procedures which will add undue stress to the patients. The aim of this study was to correlate salivary and serum UA, so that, salivary sampling will help to bypass these measures and evaluate the condition of both healthy and the diseased.

Methods

This hospital based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in 100 participants between age groups 21 to 82 years. Demographic data including height, weight and blood pressure were recorded. Serum and salivary samples were collected and UA level in both type of samples were estimated and correlation statistics was carried out.

Results

Total participants are categorized in three groups, 20-40, 41-60 and more than 60 years, among which maximum participants 43% are between 41-60 years of age. Average of body mass index (BMI) was found to be 24.46, where 50% were within normal range. Mean serum and salivary UA(mg/dl) was 4.15 and 1.90 respectively, exhibiting moderate positive correlation. They were correlated with significant “p-value” according to gender, age groups and disease conditions. Paired t- test was done between the measured and calculated salivary UA and no statistically significant difference in mean of these two values was obtained.

Conclusions

Salivary and serum UA are associated in our study so salivary UA can be used as a biomarker. Salivary UA was found to be more gender specific and specific among adults. Salivary UA can also be used as a screening tools for young and adult population.