Expression of growth mediators in the gingival crevicular fluid of patients with aggressive periodontitis undergoing periodontal surgery.

Abstract

To describe changes in growth factor mediators in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) undergoing regenerative (GTR) and access flap (AF) surgery. This was a 12-month, single-blind, split-mouth RCT involving 18 AgP patients with a bilateral intrabony defect which was treated with GTR or AF. GCF was collected prior to surgery and at subsequent follow-up visits from 3days to 12months post-operatively, and the levels of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), osteoprotegerin (OPG), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase1 (TIMP-1), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) were measured. At baseline, 6 and 12months post-surgery, periodontal clinical parameters were evaluated. ANOVA was applied to test for differences in the amount of mediators (p < 0.05). Higher amounts of BMP-2 and OPG and a higher area under the curve (AUC) of KGF at the GTR versus AF sites were observed. The maximum change in the amount of KGF correlated significantly with periodontal clinical parameters at the GTR sites at 6 and 12months. The AUC over 30days of the amount of Ang-1, VEGF and KGF significantly correlated with periodontal clinical parameters at the AF sites at 6months. AF and GTR differentially affected the profile of the growth mediators in GCF, and significant correlations between certain GCF mediators and periodontal clinical outcomes were identified. GCF components represent attractive prognostic markers for periodontal tissues undergoing repair or regeneration. However, the available evidence is not robust enough to suggest the use of a specific marker, and future adequately powered studies are warranted to identify the most relevant mediators that could be applied in clinical practice.