[Crevicular fluid myeloperoxidase and periodontitis disease]

The volume and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected with filter paper strips for 30 sec 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 healthy sites. Enzyme activity was similar at the 2 categories of diseased sites. Mean GCF volume and MPO activity of the samples were calculated for all sites with GI 0, 1, 2 and 0 + 1 irrespective of experimental group assignment. 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 these 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 rather than 30 sec. The GCF volume, MPO/site and MPO/microliter GCF each were greater in samples collected for 30 rather than 5 sec. Correlation coefficients showed that the amount of GCF and MPO activity of the fluid collected for 5 and 30 sec was dependent upon the site even though the samples were collected at different times.