Inflammatory Biomarkers as Potential Mediators for the Association between Periodontal and Systemic Disease in Kosovo

Abstract

The possibility of a connection between oral cavity and systemic diseases has been intensively researched in recent years. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of highsensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1 beta (IL1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) between patients with and without periodontitis. Clinical periodontal parameters: gingival index, the dental plaque index, the probing depth, the clinical attachment level, the bleeding index and the tooth mobility index were measured at six sites per tooth in seventy-five subjects with periodontitis and in thirty-five periodontally healthy subjects. Serum levels of hs-CRP and inflammatory cytokines were assessed via Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay. Inter-group significance was determined by the Student’s t-test, x2-test and Mann-Whitney test. The concentrations of each biomarker (control group vs. periodontal disease group) were as follows: hsCRP (0.5 ± 0.6 vs. 2.5 ± 2.6, respectively), IL-1β (2.1 ± 2.2 vs. 7.0 ± 11.6, respectively), IL- 6 (1.9 ± 1.6 vs. 3.7 ± 4.4, respectively) and TNF- α (64.6 ± 72.3 vs. 80.0 ± 73.1, respectively). The differences between the groups showed statistical significance at p < 0.05. Periodontal disease was associated with increased circulating concentrations of hs-CRP and inflammatory cytokines. Clinical article (J Int Dent Med Res 2013; 6: (1), pp. 1-5)