Prostaglandin E2 and treatment outcome in pulp therapy of primary molars with carious exposures.
OBJECTIVE
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been suggested as an indicator of irreversible pulpitis in permanent teeth [1]. There is scant information on the role of chemical mediators in primary molar pulp inflammation. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the levels of PGE2 in blood harvested from root pulp stumps following coronal pulp amputation in vital primary molar teeth with carious exposures.


METHODS
Seventy-nine cariously exposed primary molars underwent treatment by one of two vital pulp therapy techniques. Blood was harvested from 38 teeth and volume and concentration of PGE2 ([PGE2]) determined [2]. Treatment outcome was assessed from both clinical and radiographic evidence.


RESULTS
PGE2 was detected in all samples, with a wide concentration range (1-2641 ng/mL). The distribution was skewed, requiring log transformation. The difference in the mean (log) [PGE2] for radiological success (3.12, SD 1.60 and failure (4.62, SD 1.80) was significant, t = 2.05, P = 0.047. The difference in the mean (log) [PGE2] for clinical success (3.24, SD 1.65) and failure (5.44, SD 1.43 was near-significant, t = 1.84, P = 0.074.


CONCLUSIONS
[PGE2] correlated positively with radiological outcome following vital pulp therapy.
Waterhouse
P J
PJ
The Department of Child Dental Health, The Dental School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. p.j.waterhouse@ncl.ac.uk
Nunn
J H
JH
Whitworth
J M
JM
D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000628:therapy*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D003738:Dental Cements; D005566:Formocresols; C031025:formocresol; D015232:Dinoprostone; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide