[Ionized calcium and total calcium of parotid saliva in normotension and in arterial hypertension (author's transl)].

By the development of a disc-electrode and of an electrically neutral calcium carrier a precise determination of calcium ions in the parotid saliva has become available. With this new and simple method an exponential flow rate dependance of the concentration of calcium ions was found in normal persons. A steady state was observed in higher flow rates than 0.5 ml/min. The ionized/total calcium ratio was 54% in the average and was not influenced significantly by the flow rate. The values of both the ionized and total calcium concentrations were slightly lower in females than in men. The salivary ionized calcium concentration was significantly reduced in patients with arterial hypertension, and was not influenced by the flow rate. Its percentage against total calcium was 42% and was reduced to 39% by increased flow rates.