Biologic markers for odontogenic periradicular periodontitis.

Introduction: The diagnosis and assessment of apical periodontitis by traditional periapical radiographs can be challenging and might yield false-negative results. The aim of this study was to determine whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can be used as biological markers for apical periodontitis.

Methods: Forty healthy patients with teeth diagnosed with apical periodontitis of pulpal origin were included in the study. GCF samples were obtained from the diseased tooth and from a healthy contralateral control tooth. Total protein concentration in each sample was determined by using the Bio-Rad protein assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the concentration of IL-1beta and DSP in the samples.

Results: Protein content of the GCF was statistically significantly higher in the disease group compared with the control group. The levels of IL-1beta and DSP were not statistically different between disease and control groups.

Conclusions: Although this study was unable to demonstrate a significantly higher level of IL-1beta or DSP in the GCF of teeth with apical periodontitis, the observed presence of a significantly higher level of total protein in the GCF of diseased teeth suggests the possible role of total protein level as a marker for periapical disease.