Gingival crevicular fluid and serum visfatin concentration: their relationship in periodontal health and disease.

BACKGROUND: Visfatin is a pleiotropic mediator that acts as growth factor, cytokine, and enzyme involved in energy including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolism and was recently demonstrated to exert several proinflammatory functions. The purpose of this study is to determine the presence of visfatin in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum samples and to find out their association, if any.

METHODS: At the beginning of the study, 40 individuals (20 males and 20 females; age range: 23 to 53 years) were selected and divided into three groups based on the gingival index, probing depths, clinical attachment levels, and radiologic parameters (bone loss). Group 1 (10 patients with healthy periodontium; age range: 25-36 years), group 2 (15 patients with gingivitis; age range: 25-36 years), and group 3 (15 patients with chronic periodontitis; age range: 23-53 years) GCF (by microcapillary pipettes) and serum (by venipuncture) samples were collected to estimate levels of visfatin using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

RESULTS: Mean visfatin concentrations increased in GCF and serum with the severity of disease from healthy to gingivitis to periodontitis groups and differed significantly (P <0.05). However, it was found that GCF values were higher than serum values. The highest to lowest visfatin concentrations were found in groups 3 through 1, respectively. Visfatin in GCF and serum correlated positively with periodontal parameters in the chronic periodontitis group.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that GCF and serum visfatin concentrations increase with the severity of periodontal disease. Hence, visfatin values were considered an inflammatory marker in periodontal disease in GCF and serum. Visfatin also deserves further consideration as a therapeutic target.