ADVANCES IN PERIODONTAL DIAGNOSIS 5 - POTENTIAL INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNE MARKERS

The potential inflammatory and immune markers that might detect period ontal disease severity or activity are examined. The role of inflammat ory and immune factors passing from the tissues into the gingival crev icular fluid (GCF) are considered. GCF sampling is a necessary part of all diagnostic tests based on gingival and periodontal tissue factors . Inflammatory and immune factors found in GCF are reviewed with speci al reference to the humoral immune response, complement, cytokines and prostaglandins. The possible development of diagnostic tests based on these factors are discussed.