Clinical findings and gingival crevicular fluid prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-1-beta levels following initial periodontal treatment and short-term meloxicam administration.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of adjunctive meloxicam administration on clinical periodontal measurements and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1beta) levels in chronic periodontitis.

Methods: Forty chronic periodontitis patients were randomized to receive either meloxicam 7.5 mg or placebo tablets for 10 days with scaling and root planing (SRP). GCF levels of PGE(2) and IL-1beta at baseline, day 10 of drug intake and 4 weeks after SRP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic, clinical periodontal data were analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni analysis. GCF PGE(2) and IL-1beta levels were compared between different evaluation times using the Friedman test. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare biochemical data between the study groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to relate clinical and biochemical data.

Results: Study groups showed significant reductions in all clinical periodontal measurements and GCF volume (p < 0.05). In both groups, IL-1beta was reduced significantly on day 10 and at week 4 compared with baseline (p < 0.01) without significant changes in PGE(2) levels (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found between study groups in GCF IL-1beta or PGE(2) levels (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Adjunctive meloxicam does not seem to provide additional improvement in clinical parameters or GCF PGE(2) and IL-1beta levels. Larger-scale studies may better clarify potential usage of anti-inflammatory agents in periodontal therapy.