The Effect of Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy on Salivary Visfatin Concentration in Chronic Periodontitis Patients

Abstract

Chronic periodontitis is a long-term inflammatory disease of the supporting structures of teeth, characterized by remission and exacerbation. Clinical and radiographic examinations are the main standard methods for diagnosing periodontal disease, while saliva contains immunoglobulins and biomarkers providing additional information for diagnosing periodontal disease. Saliva contains local and systemic cytokines and biomarkers that can be collected in a non-invasive way.

Visfatin is one of the main cytokines present in saliva. It is a pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor that is secreted from multiple types of cells, which are lymphocytes, trophoblasts, skeletal muscle cells, bone marrow cells, and fetal membranes. The biomarker has several functions ranging from pro-inflammatory functions to pleiotropic mediation of cytokines, growth factors, and enzymes. It is an inflammatory mediator secreted by visceral adipose tissue specially macrophages. Increased levels have been determined mainly in obesity, metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis and other chronic heart and systemic diseases.

This study was performed on 10 patients with mild to moderate chronic periodontitis comparing them with 10 individuals with healthy periodontium ranging in age from 25-65 years. Clinical measurements were performed at 4 points per tooth using UNC probe and recorded in a chart, recording plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment levels on all teeth. Patients of the test group were diagnosed with generalized mild to moderate chronic periodontitis. Salivary samples of the chronic periodontitis group were collected before therapy and 30 days following closed mechanical debridement.