Usefulness of Saliva for Measurement of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Its Metabolites: Correlation with Plasma Drug Concentrations and Effect of Salivary pH
Mèonica Navarro, Simona Pichini, Magí Farré, Jordi Ortuño, Pere N. Roset, Jordi Segura, Rafael de la Torre
Clinical Chemistry October 1, 2001 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/47.10.1788 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational pharmacokinetic study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Healthy MDMA consumers |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 100 mg |
| Duration | 24 hours |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Saliva Drug Pharmacokinetics Pharmacology Chromatography Oral administration |
| Citations | 135 |
| Key findings | Salivary MDMA concentrations peaked at 1.5 hours after a 100-mg dose, with a high saliva-to-plasma ratio, and salivary pH decreased by 0.6 units. |
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Saliva is an alternative biologic matrix for drugs-of-abuse testing that offers the advantages of noninvasive, rapid, and easy sampling. We studied the excretion profile of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its metabolites in both saliva and plasma, as well the effect of the drug on salivary pH.
Methods: Saliva and plasma samples were obtained from eight healthy MDMA consumers after ingestion of a single 100-mg dose of the drug. Concentrations of MDMA and its main metabolites, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), in saliva and plasma were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Apparent pharmacokinetic parameters for MDMA in saliva were estimated, and the saliva-to-plasma ratio at each time interval was calculated and correlated with salivary pH.
Results: MDMA, MDA, and HMMA were detected in saliva. Salivary concentrations of MDMA were 1728.9–6510.6 μg/L and peaked at 1.5 h after drug intake. This was followed by a progressive decrease, with a mean concentration of 126.2 μg/L at 24 h. The saliva-to-plasma ratio was 32.3–1.2, with a peak of 18.1 at 1.5 h after drug administration. Salivary pH seemed to be affected by MDMA administration; pH values decreased by 0.6 units (mean pH values of 6.9 and 6.8 at 1.5 and 4 h after drug administration vs predose pH of 7.4).
Conclusions: Measurement of MDMA in saliva is a valuable alternative to determination of plasma drug concentrations in both clinical and toxicologic studies. On-site testing is also facilitated by noninvasive and rapid collection of salivary specimens.