Assessment of C-Reactive Protein Levels in Periodontal Patients Using a Standard Laboratory Procedure

Abstract: Background: the aims of the randomized clinical trial were (i) to verify the association between periodontal disease and C-reactive protein (CRP) and (ii) to evaluate a possible reduction of serum CRP levels after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Methods: Thirty-two subjects, 18 affected by chronic periodontitis, and 14 periodontally healthy patients, aged between 21 and 65 (41± 13) were included. Clinical and radiographic examinations were used for each patient to obtain three dental indices that were used to evaluate severity of periodontal disease and changes after treatment. Periodontal patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups for different treatments: special oral hygiene instructions alone or in combination with scaling and root planing. Blood samples were taken for measurement of CRP levels and eritrosedimentation rate before and after treatment. Results: a reduction of clinical index CPSS was observed for both groups of periodontal patients after treatment but there were no statistically significant differences for CRP and ESR at baseline and between baseline and reexamination. Non statistically significant differences of CRP values between periodontal patients and healthy controls were found. Conclusions: CRP values don’t seem to change after non-surgical treatment of periodontitis, even in presence of a reduction of clinical indices.