Plasma levels of C-telopeptide pyridinoline cross-links of type I collagen and osteocalcin in chronic periodontitis.

This study was planned to investigate whether chronic periodontitis patients exhibit different plasma concentrations of C-telopeptide pyridinoline cross-links of type I collagen (ICTP) and osteocalcin (OC) compared to the clinically healthy controls. Before initiation of any periodontal intervention, plasma samples and full-mouth clinical periodontal recordings were obtained from 58 otherwise healthy patients with chronic periodontitis and also from 47 systemically and periodontally healthy control subjects. Plasma ICTP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and OC levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were tested statistically using t test and ANOVA. The healthy control group exhibited significantly lower values in all clinical periodontal measurements (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the study groups in plasma ICTP and OC levels (P > 0.05). Within the limits of this study, it may be suggested that plasma levels of ICTP and OC may not provide distinguishing data between chronic periodontitis patients and clinically healthy subjects.