Detection of herpes simplex virus type 1 in gingival crevicular fluid of gingival sulcus/periodontal pocket using polymerase chain reaction.

Introduction: Pathogenesis and some characteristics of periodontitis cannot be fully explained by bacterial etiology alone. Herpes viruses may bridge the gap between clinical characteristics and molecular understanding of periodontal destruction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of healthy and damaged periodontium in Serbian population and to explore potential correlation between the presence of this virus and the level of periodontal destruction.

Methods: Samples were collected from gingival sulcus/periodontal pockets by sterile paper points and the presence of viral DNA in gingival crevicular fluid was assessed by PCR.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in HSV-1 in presence between periodontitis patients (PG = 38.9%) and healthy controls (HC = 32.3%), (Chi-square test, with Yates' correction p = 0.7574). However, HSV-1 positive patients showed significantly higher values of parameters of periodontal destruction (PPD = 7.11 +/- 2.52, CAL = 5.46 +/- 2.34) than periodontitis patients without HSV-1 in gingival crevicular fluid (PPD = 4.70 +/- 1.79, CAL = 3.39 +/- 2.65) (p values respectively, p = 0.002 and p = 0.023, Independent Samples T-Test). HSV-1 occurred more often in deeper (PPD > or = 6 mm) (69.2%) than in shallow pockets (3 mm < PPD < 6 mm) (18.2%) (Chi-square test, with Yates' correction, p = 0.008). Plaque index was lower in the HSV-1 positive group (0.84 +/- 0.69 vs. 1.43 +/- 0.76, p = 0.023, Independent Samples T-Test).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the presence of HSV-1 in the gingival crevicular fluid coincides with a higher degree of tissue destruction in patients with periodontitis.