Is the progression rate of periodontitis related to subgingival biofilm composition or gingival crevicular fluid IL-1β and MMP-8 concentrations?

Aim Of The Study: To analyze the composition of subgingival biofilm and to assess the concentration of IL-1 and MMP-8 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from deep periodontal pockets in patients with severe periodontitis to determine whether the presence of specific microbial species or the severity of the host's immune response can be helpful in assessing the dynamics of disease.

Material And Methods: The study included 30 individuals with periodontitis Grade B and 19 subjects with periodontitis Grade C. Quantitative and qualitative microbiological analysis of flora in pockets ≥ 7 mm was performed for the presence of selected periopathogens of the orange, red complex and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using real-time PCR. The concentrations of IL-1 and MMP-8 in GCF were evaluated with the ELISA method.

Results: There were no differences in the composition of the subgingival biofilm depending on the diagnosis. The concentration of MMP-8 in GCF was significantly higher in periodontitis Grade C than in periodontitis Grade B (61 ng/µl and 37 ng/µl respectively, p = 0.039). The concentration of IL-1β was similar in both groups. No significant correlations were observed between the occurrence of individual periopathogens and concentrations of MMP-8 and IL-1β depending on the diagnosis.

Conclusions: Periodontitis grade may not be distinguished according to microbial analysis of subgingival biofilm or to concentration of IL-1β in GCF. On the other hand, higher concentrations of MMP-9 in GCF from deep pockets may be helpful in detecting subjects particularly prone to occurrence and rapid progress of periodontitis.