Lysosomal and cytoplasmic enzyme activity, crevicular fluid volume, and clinical parameters characterizing gingival sites with shallow to intermediate probing depths.

The biochemical analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) may offer a sensitive means of determining periodontal disease activity, including the transition of gingivitis to periodontitis. To continue our evaluation of the relationship between clinical and GCF parameters, 552 sites with shallow to intermediate (2.0-5.0 mm) probing depths (PD) were examined. The data were collected at baseline from 33 periodontitis patients participating in a longitudinal trial examining the relationship of changes in GCF biochemistry to attachment loss. Mesiobuccal sites were scored for dichotomous measures of bleeding on probing, gingival redness, suppuration, and plaque accumulation. In addition, GCF was collected using filter paper strips inserted into the sulcus for 30 seconds, eluted in buffer and assayed for activity of the enzymes beta-glucuronidase (BG), arylsulfatase (AS), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), markers for ground substance-degradation and cellular necrosis, respectively. Clinical and GCF parameters were evaluated by increasing PD. Plaque accumulation and bleeding on probing increased with increasing PD, although there was considerable overlap across groups. Suppuration was present in only a very small number of sites and the proportion of sites displaying gingival redness was not related to PD. GCF volume was grouped in 0.25-microliter increments, revealing a progressive shift with increasing PD toward a normal distribution around the median range of 0.51 to 0.75 microliter at 5.0 mm. Mean enzyme activities of BG, and to a lesser extent AS and LDH increased sharply from 2.0 to 3.0 mm, were relatively stable from 3.5 to 4.5 mm, and were significantly higher in 5.0 mm than 4.5 mm sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)