HYDROXYPROLINE AND TOTAL PROTEIN-LEVELS IN GINGIVA AND GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID IN PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE, RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE, AND ADULT PERIODONTITIS

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY was to compare hydroxyproline (Hyp) and total pr otein levels both in the gingiva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) f rom juvenile (JP), rapidly progressive (RPP), and adult periodontitis (AP) patients and periodontally healthy controls (C). A total of 60 in dividuals, 15 from each group, were studied. GCF was obtained before g ingival sampling. Clinical measurements were recorded. The gingival sa mples were harvested by full thickness flap operation from patients an d immediately after the extraction of the teeth for orthodontic reason s from controls. The samples were analyzed biochemically. GCF Hyp leve ls were significantly higher in the AP group than those of the RPP and C groups. The strong positive correlations between gingival and GCF H yp levels were determined in the disease groups. Total protein levels in both the gingiva and GCF were significantly higher in disease group s. However, the differences between the disease groups were not statis tically significant. Correlations between the clinical parameters and Hyp levels in gingiva and GCF were determined. The findings indicate t hat Hyp and total protein levels both in the gingiva and GCF appeared to be increased in the disease groups. These findings suggest that bot h the synthesis and degradation of collagen and total protein are elev ated in periodontal disease. However, our findings do not support the concept that measurement of either Hyp or total protein levels in ging iva or GCF is a suitable or reliable criterion in determination of dis ease activity.