CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF SALIVARY TNF-αAMONG MENOPAUSE WOMAN WITH AND WITHOUT PERIODONTITIS - A SHORT STUDY

Background: Menopause is associated with significant hormonal changes that can influence systemic and oral health, including an increased risk of inflammatory conditions such as periodontitis. Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a key pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in periodontal disease progression and has been detected in saliva, serving as a potential biomarker for disease severity. Objectives: To determine the association between elevated salivary TNF-α levels and periodontitis in menopaus women. Materials and Methods: An in vivo cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 menopausal women, divided into two groups: Group I (with periodontitis; n=20) and Group II (without periodontitis; n=20). Saliva samples were collected using randomized sampling, and TNF-α levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using SPSS software, with Independent t-tests employed for group comparisons; significance was established at p < 0.05. Results: All participants exhibited detectable salivary TNF-α levels. Group I demonstrated significantly higher TNF-α concentrations with Mean ± SD of 20.48 ± 3.10 compared to Group II with 11.32 ± 1.74, with the difference being statistically significant (p = 0.001). These results revealed the association between elevated TNF-α levels in periodontitis in menopausal women, reflecting the combined impact of hormonal changes and local inflammation. Conclusion: Elevated salivary TNF-α levels in menopausal women with periodontitis suggest that TNF-α could serve as a potential biomarker for periodontal inflammation influenced by estrogen deficiency. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between systemic hormonal alterations and local inflammatory responses in periodontal disease, warranting further research with larger cohorts and exploration of targeted therapeutic strategies.