Abstract
The study aim was to determine whether prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could serve as a risk factor for periodontitis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV(+)) patients. Clinical measurements, including gingival index (GI), plaque index, bleeding index, probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) and GCF samples were taken from two healthy sites (including sites with gingival recession, GI=0; PD< or =3 mm; AL< or =2 mm), three gingivitis sites (GI>0; PD< or =3 mm; AL=0) and three periodontitis sites (GI>0; PD> or =5 mm; AL> or =3 mm) of each of the 30 patients at baseline and 6-month visits. GCF samples were also taken by means of paper strips. GCF PGE(2) levels were determined by a sandwich ELISA. The progressing site was defined as a site which had 2 mm or more attachment loss during the 6-month study period. The mean amounts of PGE(2) were significantly higher in gingivitis and periodontitis sites than in healthy sites (p<0.0001). GCF levels of PGE(2) were significantly correlated with probing depth, attachment loss, CD4(+) cells, viral load, age and smoking pack-years at baseline and 6-month visits (0.0001