Assessment of Endodontic treatment outcome based on Gingival crevicular fluid levels of NLRP3 & pain score in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis- A cross-sectional study

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the outcome of endodontic treatment based on the levels of NLRP3 in gingival crevicular fluid and pain scores in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Methods: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were included in the study. After obtaining informed consent, GCF samples were collected from the selected teeth before initiating endodontic treatment. The levels of NLRP3 in GCF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pain scores were recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after the endodontic treatment. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed to assess the association between NLRP3 levels, pain scores, and treatment outcomes.

Results: The mean NLRP3 levels in GCF were found to be significantly higher in teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). After endodontic treatment, significant reductions were observed in NLRP3 levels (p < 0.001) and pain scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was found between NLRP3 levels and pain scores (r = 0.523, p < 0.001). The success rate of endodontic treatment was 86.3% based on clinical and radiographic criteria.

Conclusion: This cross-sectional study demonstrated that the levels of NLRP3 in GCF were elevated in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and showed a positive correlation with pain scores. Furthermore, the reduction in NLRP3 levels and pain scores following endodontic treatment suggests the potential role of NLRP3 as a biomarker for assessing treatment outcomes in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Further longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the clinical utility of NLRP3 in endodontics.