Relación entre niveles de carbamazepina en saliva y plasma: Estudio piloto / Saliva and plasma levels of carbamazepine have a poor correlation: a pilot study

Abstract: Carbamazepine is one of the most commonly used anticonvulsants for the treatment of epilepsy and its plasma concentrations must be monitored periodically to obtain a useful and safe clinical effect. There is not a good relationship between the dose of the carbamazepine and their effects in humans, but the effects of this drug have been well correlated with its plasma levels. Aim: To measure the correlation between plasma and saliva levels of carbamazepine in children with epilepsy. Material and Methods: Saliva and plasma levels of carbamazepine were measured by using instrumental planar chromatography in 11 epileptic children aged 8 to 15 years treated with the drug for at least six months. Results: The mean saliva/plasma ratio was 0.18±0.05 and the mean of carbamazepine concentration in saliva, expressed as a percentage of concentrations in plasma, was 17.97±5.40. There was a poor linear correlation (r =0.37) between the concentrations of carbamazepine in both fluids. Conclusions: In this group of epileptic children the correlation between saliva and plasma carbamazepine levels was weak.

Resultados de 2 años de un programa de rehabilitación de enfermos alcohólicos / Results of a long term alcoholism rehabilitation program

One hundred eighty two alcoholics admitted for treatment of their alcoholism were followed during 2 years in a special clinic. The effects of length of alcoholism, withdrawal symptoms on admission and the presence of histological liver damage on long term outcome were assessed using life table analysis. During the 2 years period, 75 percent of patients were lost from control and 63 percent relapsed in their alcoholic ingestion. None of the above mentionated parameters had an effect on relapse or loss from follow up. There are high attrition and failure rates and the length of alcoholism, degree of initial withdrawal and the liver damage do not influence the long term results of this program