Can salivary oestradiol level replace serum oestradiol in assessing pubertal development in girls

ABSTRACT

The easy, stress free, non-invasive nature cf saliva collection makes it one of the most accessible body fluids and it is potential of value in studying normal human physiology as well as pathology. A simple accurate radio- immunoassay technique was used to determine serum and salivary oestradiol. The study was done on 50 girls, their ages ranged from 8-16 years. Full clinical examination was done, assessment of pubertal stages, measurements of weights and heights were done as well. Salivary oestradiol was found to be about 2% of serum oestradiol, levels of oestradiol in saliva followed the same pattern as in blood. A highly significant correlation was shown between serum and salivary oestradiol [P -< 0.001]. Salivary oestradiol showed an increase with age as well as with the stage of puberty and it showed a significant correlation with the body mass index, the same as serum oestradiol. The analysis of saliva could be useful in investigation of children and young adults especially if serial blood samplings are needed