Utility of procalcitonin as an early diagnostic marker of bacteremia in individuals with Periodontitis Stage II and III

Abstract

Background

The aim of the present study is to assess the ability of procalcitonin (PCT) to differentiate between periodontal health and Periodontitis Stage II and III. We further assessed, if PCT can reflect early bacteremia induced by nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT).

Material and Methods

Sixty four systemically healthy individuals were divided into Group I‐ Periodontally healthy and Group II‐ Periodontitis Stage II and III. NSPT was done for both the groups. Standardized serum and salivary samples were obtained and analyzed for PCT levels using highly sensitive double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at baseline and two weeks. In addition the serum levels of PCT were recorded at immediate and one hour post NSPT.

Results

Mean PCT levels (Saliva = 0.03ng/ml and Serum = 0.05ng/ml) in periodontally healthy group were considerably lower than that in the periodontitis group (Saliva = 0.22ng/ml and Serum = 1.85ng/ml) with significant intergroup comparison at p<0.001. Post NSPT the mean serum PCT values increased from 1.854ng/ml to 1.871ng/ml at the immediate interval and remained at 0.879ng/ml after two weeks at p<0.001. Spearman's correlation showed highly significant positive correlation between serum and salivary PCT values to CAL at p<0.001 and rho = 0.78 and 0.75 respectively. Linear regression model showed serum PCT to be a significant predictor for CAL.

Conclusion

Screening for serum PCT levels in periodontitis patients could act not only as a guide to assess the bacterial load and use of antibiotics but also as a predictor for CAL loss in periodontitis patients.

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/JPER.20-0513?af=R