Increased serum salicylate metabolites with age in patients receiving chronic acetylsalicylic acid therapy.

A high pressure liquid chromatographic method was used to measure the serum concentrations of salicylic, salicyluric and gentisic acids in patients receiving chronic acetylsalicylic acid therapy. There was good correlation between this method and the established colorimetric assay for salicylic acid. The concentration of gentisic and salicyluric acids were increased in patients older than 60 years. No correlation was found with sex, concomitant ingestion of other drugs, serum creatinine or serum albumin.