Gingival crevicular fluid and plasma levels of neuropeptide Substance-P in periodontal health, disease and after nonsurgical therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The level of Substance-P in gingival crevicular fluid has been found to correlate with clinical measures of periodontal disease. The present study was designed to assess the relationship between clinical parameters and levels of Substance-P in the gingival crevicular fluid from inflamed gingiva, periodontitis sites and after treatment of periodontitis sites, and to correlate them to the Substance-P levels of plasma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty, age- and gender-matched subjects were divided into three groups (healthy, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis) based on modified gingival index scores and clinical attachment loss. A fourth group consisted of 10 subjects from the periodontitis group, 6-8 wk after initial therapy. Plasma and gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected and quantified for Substance-P using an enzyme immunoassay.

RESULTS

The mean concentration of Substance-P, both in gingival crevicular fluid and plasma, was observed to be highest in the periodontitis group (45.13 pg/mL in gingival crevicular fluid and 67.8 pg/mL in plasma) and lowest in the healthy group (6.07 pg/mL in gingival crevicular fluid and below the detection level in plasma). The mean Substance-P concentration in the gingivitis group (11.42 pg/mL in gingival crevicular fluid and 38.8 pg/mL in plasma) and in the after-treatment group (7.58 pg/mL in gingival crevicular fluid and 39.7 pg/mL in plasma) lay between the highest and lowest values. In all groups the gingival crevicular fluid levels showed a statistically significant positive correlation with that of plasma and clinical attachment loss.

CONCLUSION

Substance-P levels were highest in the gingival crevicular fluid from sites with periodontal destruction; however, periodontal treatment resulted in the reduction of Substance-P levels. Gingival crevicular fluid and plasma Substance-P levels showed a positive correlation in all of the groups.