Immunocompetent cell level as a diagnostic reference for pulpal pathosis of primary teeth.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to measure changes in the level of immunocompetent cells as healthy pulp becomes inflamed in order to evaluate the use of CD4+/CD8+ and B/CD3+ lymphocyte ratios as a diagnostic reference for pulpal pathosis in primary teeth pulp.

DESIGN

Based on clinical and radiographic examinations, 113 carious and non-carious primary teeth were grouped as healthy teeth, teeth with reversible pulpitis and teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Following dental extraction, pulp samples were collected from all teeth, and 81 of the samples were found to be suitable for flow-cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subset. Kolmogorov-Smirnov's test, One-way ANOVA and Tukey's Post Hoc tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis revealed no increases in the mean percentages of T, B and CD4+ lymphocytes in inflamed pulp when compared to healthy pulp. However, both CD8+ and NK cell numbers decreased in line with progressive inflammation. Whereas the CD4+/CD8+ ratios increased in accordance with the severity of pulpitis, B/T ratios remained unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunocompetent cell levels did not change in line with progressive inflammation; therefore, the use of CD4+/CD8+ and B/CD3+ lymphocyte ratios cannot be used as a diagnostic reference for pulpal pathosis in primary teeth.