Evaluation of gingival crevicular fluid levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in menopausal patients with chronic periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment

Sexual hormones such as estrogen have been suggested as factors that may influence the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Estrogen deficiency is associated with excessive and sustained bone lose. Bone resorption increase is due to both increased osteoclastogenesis and decreased osteoclast apoptosis. The receptor activator of nuclear factor- kappa B ligand (RANKL) is an essential cytokine for osteoclastogenesis and its effects are blocked by secretory glycoprotein osteoprotegerin (OPG), which acts as a decoy receptor for RANKLThe purpose of current study is to determine the levels of GCF-OPG, plasma estrogen and bone mineral density in menopausal and premenopausal patients either with or without chronic periodontitis. For this purpose 44 systemically healthy patients were recruited and divided into four subgroups: (1) Premenopausal patients with chronic periodontitis (n:11); (2) Postmenopausal patients with chronic periodontitis (n:11); (3) Premenopausal patients with gingivitis (n:11); (2) Postmenopausal patients with gingivitis (n:11). Before and after the phase 1 periodontal therapy plaque index, gingival index, periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment level and gingival recession were recorded and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collectedFull mouth and sampled sites' clinical parameters showed a significant improvement after periodontal phase 1 therapy. Total levels and concentration of OPG in GCF was elevated after periodontal phase 1 therapy but it was not statistically significant. Similarly the comparison showing that OPG levels of chronic peridontitis groups were lower than gingivitis groups was not statistically significant. No significant bone mineral density alterations were found between all groups. In conclusion, current data suggested that periodontal phase 1 therapy resulted with an increased OPG levels in gingival crevicular fluid in all groups, however, those alterations appeared to be independent from serum estrogen levels and bone mineral density values.