Crevicular fluid myeloperoxidase at healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites

The volume and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected with filter paper strips for 30 s from the sulcus of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites of Chinese subjects were measured. MPO/site and MPO/microliter GCF were both greater at gingivitis and periodontitis sites than at healthy sites. Enzyme activity was similar at the 2 categories of diseased sites. Mean GCF volume and MPO activity were calculated for all samples from healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites with GI 0, 1, 2 and 0 + 1. GCF volume, MPO/site and MPO/microliter GCF all were greater at GI 2 than GI 0 or 0 + 1. These data indicate that increased GCF MPO previously observed at periodontitis sites is not specific to such sites. Rather increased GCF MPO likely occurs when additional polymorphonuclear leukocytes enter the sulcus as a result of gingival inflammation. A second sample was obtained from 22 sites 4 weeks after the initial collection. These samples were collected for 5 s rather than 30 s. The GCF volume, MPO/site and MPO/microliters GCF were each greater in samples collected for 30 s rather than 5 s. Correlation coefficients showed that the amount of GCF and MPO activity of the fluid collected for 5 s and 30 s was dependent upon the site even though the 5-s and 30-s samples were collected 4 weeks apart.