Utilization of a biochemical kit for detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the saliva of periodontal disease individuals

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory process that occurs in response to infection from bacteria in dental plaque. PD affects and destroys the periodontal tissues causing teeth loss. It is also associated to systemic diseases. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver and released into the blood during the acute phase of inflammation. Therefore, CRP is very used as a marker for inflammation process. Studies on the presence of CRP in the saliva of the subjects with PD do not exist. Objective: The aim of this study was to test a biochemical kit for CRP detection in blood plasma to monitor CRP in saliva of PD subjects. Material and methods: Saliva was collected from 40 individuals, both sexes, from 20-45 years-old, divided into two groups Test Group - PD subjects (TG; n = 20) and Control Group (CG n = 20), without PD. The following salivary parameters were analysed buffer capacity (BC), salivary flow (SF), pH, urea, total proteins, and CRP. Results: pH, SF and BC values were considered normal in both groups. The urea concentration was higher in TG (27.4 mg/dl ± 10.03) than CG (22.9 mg/dl ± 8.3). However, the concentration of total proteins was higher in CG (201.2 ± 100 mg/dl) than TG (155.0 ± 95 mg/dl). CRP was detected in 11 PD subjects and in eight subjects without PD. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between the two groups in relation to SF, pH and BC. However, in PD subjects' saliva, urea values increased and total proteins decreased. The biochemical kit detected CRP in subjects' saliva of both groups.