Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Salivary HIF-1α, VEGF and TNF-α Levels in Different Periodontal Diseases

Study Population and Clinical Examination

Eighty-seven participants were recruited for the study. Exclusion criteria were as follows: 1) systemic diseases that could affect the periodontium; 2) smoking; 3) current pregnancy or lactation; 4) nonsurgical/surgical periodontal treatment received for the past year; and 5) use of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs within the past 6 months.

The full-mouth clinical periodontal examination included measurement of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), presence of bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) at 6 sites per tooth. Presence and extent of alveolar bone loss were assessed radiographically. Based on clinical and radiographic diagnostic criteria proposed by 1999 International Workshop for a Classification of Periodontal Diseases and Conditions, the participants were categorized into four groups.

I. Generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) group (n=20). These individuals had minimum PD ≥6 mm and CAL ≥5 mm on eight or more teeth; at least three of these were other than central incisors or first molars. Radiographic alveolar bone loss was ≥30% of root length affecting at least three permanent teeth other than first molars and incisors. The severe destruction pattern was not commensurate with amount of plaque accumulation or other local risk factors for a given age.

II. Chronic periodontitis (CP) group (n=20). These individuals had at least four non-adjacent teeth with sites with PD ≥6 mm and CAL ≥5 mm. They had also ≥50% alveolar bone loss in at least two quadrants that was commensurate with amount of plaque accumulation. BOP was >50% in the whole mouth.