Methods: A group of 145 individuals suffering from severe generalized periodontitis (defined as probing pocket depths of >6 mm and marginal alveolar bone loss of >30% with 50% or more of their teeth affected) and 56 matched healthy controls were examined. PTM consisted of an intensive session of full mouth subgingival root debridement delivered within a 4-hr period under local anaesthesia. Blood samples were taken at baseline and 1 and 7 and 30 days after treatment. Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM), biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and blood markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP and Interleukin-6, IL-6) were determined in serum by high sensitivity assays.
Results: Patients with severe periodontitis exhibited higher serum OS (P<0.001) and lower total anti-oxidant capacity (P<0.001) compared to healthy controls. d-ROM levels were positively correlated with markers of systemic inflammation (CRP, r=0.4 P<0.001, IL-6, R=0.3, P<0.05) but weakly correlated with clinical periodontal parameters (R=0.20, P<0.05) and influenced by gender differences (P<0.001). Acute changes of d-ROM levels (P<0.01) were also observed following PTM.
Conclusions: These data indicate that severe periodontitis is independently associated with increased serum OS and reduced antioxidant capacity. In addition acute inflammation following PTM may influence systemic levels of reactive oxygen species.