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Background: Various metabolic changes occurs in chronic kidney disease , which needs repeated analysis of blood. Blood sampling for serum analysis is an invasive, irritating process. A non-invasive procedure would be profitable . Objectives: To measure and compare serum and salivary urea and creatinine levels and to determine if saliva can be used as a diagnostic tool for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Methods: A case control study, including 50 patients and 16 healthy controls. Saliva and blood specimens were examined for creatinine and urea levels. Data are introduced as median associated with interquartile range. Correlation between salivary and serum urea and creatinine was resolved using Spearman’s Rho correlation. Receiver operating characteristics analysis and cut-off were established.
Results :Median salivary creatinine levels were 0.154 md/dl and 0.041 md/dl while median salivary urea levels were 13.45 mg/dl and 11.35 mg/dl in patients with chronic kidney disease and controls accordingly. Total area under the curve for salivary creatinine and urea were 0.09 and 0.632 respectively. Cut-off values for salivary creatinine and urea were 0.064 mg/dl and 11.75 mg/dl which gave sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 75% for creatinine, also 58% and 69% for urea
Conclusion: Salivary creatinine test can be used instead of blood serum tests as a non-invasive diagnostic tool while salivary urea cannot be used as a diagnostic tool for chronic kidney disease.