Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 Salivary Test for Periodontal Diagnosis in Infertile Women

Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a common chronic infection and inflammatory gingival disease and its supportive tissue associated with several unwanted effects, including serious obstetric consequences. Periodontitis is commonly diagnosed in clinical practice based on clinical findings and radiological examinations, but also with the help of microbiological or periodontal bacterial specimens. Several salivary markers have been investigated and it appears that the determination of matrix metalloproteinases provides clear information on the difference between gingivitis, periodontitis, and healthy periodontitis. Especially in this respect, matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP 8) was investigated, which proved to be a fairly good marker. Little is known about the effect of periodontitis on reproductive potential of women. Some studies have assumed that periodontitis could be one of the possible risk factors of infertility of an unknown cause. One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the negative influence of periodontitis is the conception of the mediator of inflammation at the level of the endometrium and the place of implantation of the embryo.The aim of the study was to compare the level of MMP8 in salivary fluid in infertile patients in relation to the control group of fertile women, depending on the existence of periodontitis.