Background: Most studies have evaluated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients, and a few investigations have examined gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) CRP levels. The aims of this study were to determine GCF and serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP (HsCRP) in CP patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD) and to investigate the relationship between the GCF and serum HsCRP levels in CP patients with and without CAD.
Methods: Thirty CP patients with angiographically proven CAD, 20 CP patients, and 17 healthy individuals were included in the study. Clinical parameters were recorded, and serum and GCF samples were collected. The level of HsCRP in GCF was assayed by a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The HsCRP level was assayed in the plasma on a nephelometer.
Results: The serum HsCRP levels were significantly higher in CP patients with or without CAD than in the control group, and there was a correlation between serum HsCRP levels and clinical parameters and between serum HsCRP levels and GCF volume. There was no statistically significant difference in GCF HsCRP levels between the groups. There was no correlation between GCF HsCRP levels and clinical parameters, GCF volume, or serum HsCRP levels.
Conclusions: Patients with CP and CP + CAD had statistically significant elevations in serum HsCRP levels compared to healthy subjects. However, HsCRP levels of GCF did not differ from those of the control and CP groups or the control and CP + CAD groups. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between GCF CRP levels and periodontal diseases.