Estimated Salicylate Serum Levels

 

peak salicylate in mg/dL =

= ((mg of salicylate ingested) * (100) / (70% of body weight in g))

 

where:

• 70% of body weight in grams corresponds to total body water.

 

The Done Nomogram can be used to predict the severity of outcome based serum salicylate levels measured 6 or more hours after ingestion. However, it has several limitations:

1) assumes single dose exposure; does not correlate with multiple ingestions;

2) samples drawn less than 6 hours after ingestion will not reflect peak levels and should not be used with the nomogram;

3) enteric coated tablets have different absorption rates.

 

reading dividing lines from Done nomogram (serum levels in mg/dL)

	6 hr	12 hr	24 hr	36 hr	48 hr	60 hr
lethal-severe line	120					20
severe-moderate line	88
moderate-mild line	66
mild-asymptomatic line	42				10	XX