Clinical findings and gingival crevicular fluid prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-1-beta levels following initial periodontal treatment and short-term meloxicam administration.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of adjunctive meloxicam administration on clinical periodontal measurements and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1beta) levels in chronic periodontitis.

METHODS

Forty chronic periodontitis patients were randomized to receive either meloxicam 7.5 mg or placebo tablets for 10 days with scaling and root planing (SRP). GCF levels of PGE(2) and IL-1beta at baseline, day 10 of drug intake and 4 weeks after SRP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic, clinical periodontal data were analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni analysis. GCF PGE(2) and IL-1beta levels were compared between different evaluation times using the Friedman test. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare biochemical data between the study groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to relate clinical and biochemical data.

RESULTS

Study groups showed significant reductions in all clinical periodontal measurements and GCF volume (p < 0.05). In both groups, IL-1beta was reduced significantly on day 10 and at week 4 compared with baseline (p < 0.01) without significant changes in PGE(2) levels (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found between study groups in GCF IL-1beta or PGE(2) levels (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Adjunctive meloxicam does not seem to provide additional improvement in clinical parameters or GCF PGE(2) and IL-1beta levels. Larger-scale studies may better clarify potential usage of anti-inflammatory agents in periodontal therapy.