Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse simultaneously four markers in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) from 41 patients in four different groups over a period of six months in order to establish profiles indicating quantitative ratio and potential correlations.
Material and Methods:We compared levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), specific plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in GCF and PICF from four groups of patients: healthy teeth (n=10), healthy implants (n=10), periodontitis (n=11) and peri-implantitis (n=10). Clinical parameters including bacterial flora were quantified by PCR-analysis. The concentration in GCF/PICF of IL-1β, PAI-2, E2 (PGE2) was determined by ELISA, TNF-α by Western blot analysis.Results: Healthy teeth showed significantly higher levels of IL-1β than healthy implants. The mean level of E2 (PGE2) for healthy teeth was twice as high as for healthy implants. Periodontitis and peri-implantitis sites showed highly increased secretion of IL-1ß and E2 (PGE2) resulting in significantly higher levels of IL-1ß in periodontits than in peri-implantitis. Highest TNF-α levels showed in the peri-implantitis group, lowest in healthy teeth. Lowest concentrations of PAI-2 appeared in peri-implantitis, highest in healthy implants.
Conclusions:Within the limits of the study it could be hypothesized that the significantly higher levels of IL-1ß and E2 (PGE2) for healthy teeth than for healthy implants could in part be due to the lack of periodontal ligament cells around implants. Another possible explanation could be the anti-inflammatory property of titanium surfaces of implants.