Determination of Salivary Lactoferrin Levels Before and After Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment in Patients with Aggressive Periodontitis

Objective: This study determined levels of Salivary lactoferrin (sLf) before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) in individuals with localized and generalized aggressive periodontitis compared to healthy controls. Methodology: The study was an interventional and prospective design. Nineteen participants were clinically and radiographically diagnosed as having AP and 18 participants who did not show evidence of the disease or other diseases, served as controls. All participants received NSPT which included scaling and polishing for the controls and scaling and root planing (SRP) for the cases. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from participants before and after NSPT. Salivary Lactoferrin levels were quantified using the Human Lactoferrin ELISA kit. Results: The mean ages were: GAP=33.80±8.93, LAP=32.11±8.07 and Controls = 31.39±8.98 years. Concentration of sLf before NSPT among the cases was 70.92±26.84 (-μg/ml-) and the controls had 48.39±28.56 (-μg/ml-). After treatment, concentration of sLf was 68.57±25.34 (-μg/ml-) for cases and 43.42±21.54(-μg/ml-) for controls. A significant difference was observed at baseline between cases and controls (p= 0.018) and after treatment (p=0.003) which indicated sLf levels were higher in the diseased than non-diseased individuals. Conclusion: Elevated sLf levels serve as an indication for increased degree of inflammation and this biomarker can be used to determine the severity of AP.