Salivary MMP-8 Levels and Periodontal Health Status Among Adults Attending the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital

Objectives: To determine the relationship between the salivary MMP-8 levels and periodontitis severity in adults attending the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital.
Methods: 120 participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Each participant had about 5mL of unstimulated whole saliva sample collected over 3 minutes, between 7:30 am and 10:00 am along with their biodata. Periodontal examination to assess plaque levels (Silness and Löe, 1964) and gingival status (Löe and Silness, 1963) were carried out. Periodontal health status was determined using 6 point periodontal probing depths, recession and clinical attachment loss assessment. Periodontitis severity was classified according to the CDC/AAP consensus definitions for epidemiological studies. Salivary MMP-8 from every participant’s saliva sample was quantified using a double antibody sandwich ELISA technique utilizing specific monoclonal antibodies. Statistical significance was taken at p = 0.05.
Results: The mean level of salivary MMP-8 was 40.52ng/mL (±66.38 SD ng/mL). Salivary MMP-8 was positively correlated with severity of periodontitis. The No periodontitis group (69) had 22.68 ng/mL, mild periodontitis (13) had 44.55 ng/mL, moderate periodontitis group(23) had 46.34 ng/mL and severe periodontitis group(9) had 156.62 ng/mL. A cut off of 114.55 ng/mL was able to distinguish between participants with periodontitis versus healthy with a predictive value of 80% (AUC=0.8; p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Salivary MMP-8 levels were positively correlated with severity of periodontitis and are able to differentiate between healthy and periodontitis among adults attending the University of Nairobi Dental hospital.