The relation between aldosterone concentrations in plasma and saliva during pregnancy

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Abstract
Summary. The concentrations of aldosterone and glucocorticoids (cortisol+cortisone) were measured in saliva and plasma samples obtained from healthy women during early (11–19 weeks), mid (24–29 weeks) and late (32–37 weeks) pregnancy. There was a progressive increase in mean aldosterone levels in both saliva and plasma throughout pregnancy, though at each stage of pregnancy the range was very wide. Glucocorticoid levels increased up to mid‐pregnancy and then remained constant. At no stage were aldosterone and glucocorticoid levels significantly correlated. The proportion of free (non‐protein bound) aldosterone in plasma, and the sa1iva: plasma ratio of aldosterone did not differ from the non‐pregnant range at any stage of pregnancy. We conclude that measurement of aldosterone concentration in saliva is a convenient and valid method for the estimation of plasma free aldosterone in pregnancy and so provide a non‐invasive technique for assessing aldosterone status throughout pregnancy.