C-Reative Protein Concentration Pre and Post Root Canal Therapy

Objectives: To observe the influence of root infection and root canal treatment on C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in blood serum. Methods: In Group 1 (three dogs), root canal treatments were performed in healthy teeth. In Groups 2, 3, and 4 (nine dogs), eight root canals per dog were infected until apical periodontitis (AP) developed. Roots with AP were treated by single-visit therapy in Group 2, by two-visit therapy in Group 3, and were left untreated in Group 4. The CRP blood serum concentration of 12 dogs was measured using a dog-specific enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and the data obtained were then statistically analyzed. Results: In the period preceding the diagnosis of AP (Groups 2, 3, and 4), the median CRP concentration increased from 12 mg/L at baseline up to 59 mg/L in animals presenting AP (p = 0.001). The median CRP concentration in animals with AP treated in single (Group 2) or two-visits (Group 3) decreased from 59 mg/L (pre-treatment) down to 20 mg/L (post treatment) (p = 0.005), although without difference between the groups. In contrast, the CRP concentration did not decrease significantly (p > 0.05) for animals with AP not submitted to root canal treatment and did not change significantly (p > 0.05) for animals without apical periodontitis submitted to root canal treatment (Group 1). Conclusions: The microbial load of root infection influenced the CRP concentration in the blood serum of dogs which was modulated by root canal treatment. [Financial support: State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grant 04/08364-2 to MRL and fellowship 06/51161-0 to FWGPS) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (fellowship 301986/2006-1 to LABS)].