title: Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in saliva of patients with different periodontal conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in saliva measured by Reflotron trade mark System of Diagnosis and periodontal condition indicated by Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients were assigned to one of four groups C0, C1, C3 and C4, based on their largest CPITN code among the examined sites, totaling 60 participants. About 1.0 ml of non-stimulated saliva was collected from the individuals after a mouth rinse with water. Biochemical analyses of saliva samples were carried out using the proposed system in order to quantify their AST concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between levels (U/ml) of AST (median; interquartile range) from groups C0 (30.9; 14.7-41.7), C1 (30.3; 19.5-39.4) and C3 (35.1; 27.0-63.5). However, group C4 (106.2; 84.4-129.7) differed statistically from the others (p<0.001) and presented AST levels as high as 284.2 U/ml. Gingival bleeding and suppuration were observed in three individuals with concentrations higher than 125.0 U/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of AST in saliva from patients presenting CPITN code 4 were higher than from patients coded lower and could be detected by the evaluated diagnostic system. Periodontal destruction such as periodontal pockets, gingival bleeding and suppuration seems to be related to higher AST levels in saliva.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo de Toledo
authors.initials: Rde T
authors.lastname: Cesco
authors.forename: Izabel Yoko
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Rubens Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases