Gingival crevicular fluid levels of prolactin hormone in periodontitis patients before and after treatment and in healthy controls.

OBJECTIVE

Prolactin (PRL) acts as a hormone and as a cytokine and is linked to the pathogenesis of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate a potential role for prolactin in the pathogenesis of periodontitis by assessing its local gingival crevicular levels before and after periodontal treatment, compared to controls.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

40 participants were included and divided into 2 groups. Group 1; included 20 patients suffering from moderate to severe periodontitis and group 2; included 20 healthy controls. GCF samples were collected from both groups after initial clinical examination and 3 months after scaling and root planning for the periodontitis group only. Levels of prolactin were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

At baseline, a statistically significant elevated PRL levels were shown in the periodontitis group compared to controls (p less than 0.001), with a non significant difference between males and females (p greater than 0.05) . Periodontal debridement caused a significant reduction in PRL levels but these levels remained significantly higher compared to controls levels. A 100% diagnostic accuracy was shown for PRL levels in the tested groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a role for PRL in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, further, it could represent a reliable biomarker for disease activity and prognosis.