Salivary visfatin concentrations in patients with chronic periodontitis: An analysis before and after periodontal therapy

Abstract

Background and Aims: Visfatin, also known as pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor, is secreted from a variety of cells and is thought to have some proinflammatory and immunomodulating effects. It is indicated that serum/plasma levels of visfatin increase in a number of inflammatory disorders. The present study aims to assess salivary visfatin concentrations and investigate its relationship in patients with chronic periodontitis before and after periodontal therapy. Methods: This prospective clinical study included a total of 20 subjects who were divided into two groups with 10 patients in each viz Group A: Periodontally healthy subjects, Group B: Chronic periodontitis subjects. In group B, the subjects were further assigned as T1 and T2 groups before and after periodontal therapy. Periodontal parameters including plaque index, gingival index, sulcus bleeding index, probing depth and clinical attachment level were recorded at baseline and patients were subjected to periodontal therapy. An ELISA analysis was performed to measure the visfatin levels in saliva in study groups before and after 12 weeks of periodontal therapy. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were evaluated statistically using Student t-test, one way ANOVA, Post-hoc Tukey's test and Pearson's rank correlation method. Results: The salivary visfatin concentrations were reduced significantly after periodontal therapy. There were statistically significant differences elicited in salivary visfatin levels of Group A and T1 of Group B and also between T1 and T2 of Group B. Conclusions: Salivary levels of Visfatin are reduced after periodontal therapy to the levels comparable with those found in healthy individuals. Therefore, the salivary visfatin levels may have the potential to be a target marker for assessment of responses to periodontal therapy.