Arylsulphatase activity in human gingival crevicular fluid.

Arylsulphatase activity in fluid collected from non-inflamed (n = 5), gingivitis (n = 5) and periodontitis (n = 5) subjects was assayed. The mean volume activity for each group was: non-inflamed = 768 +/- 165 nm/ml per h; gingivitis = 2431 +/- 1118 nm/ml per h; periodontitis = 2860 +/- 1839 nm/ml per h. The mean total unit activity for each group was: non-inflamed = 0.326 +/- 0.076 nm; gingivitis = 1.394 +/- 0.411 nm; and periodontitis = 3.571 +/- 1.700 nm. Analysis of fluid from isolated sites in periodontitis suggests that reporting total unit activity (absolute amount of enzyme activity) is more meaningful than reporting volume activity (enzyme concentration) for arylsulphatase activity.