title: Association of gingival crevicular fluid and serum intracytoplasmic enzyme levels in periodontally healthy homozygous (major) beta-thalassemia patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess tissue necrosis in beta-thalassemia major patients, as in other areas of medicine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) have been widely used. These markers of tissue degradation have also been studied in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in relation to periodontal disease status. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether periodontal diagnostic tests based on these markers of tissue degradation are influenced from the enzymes' levels in serum and, therefore, could be used in the assessment of the patient's periodontal status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four periodontally healthy, homozygous beta-thalassemia patients were enrolled in the study. GCF and serum samples were obtained and the levels of AST, ALT and LDH were determined; the measurements took place in an automated analyzer (Hitachi 777) using the kits of Roche Company.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lack of correlations between serum and GCF enzyme levels was demonstrated. Serum LDH and serum AST, serum AST and serum ALT are significantly positively correlated. Concerning the GCF, AST and ALT were proved to be significantly positively correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated values of LDH, ALT and AST in serum do not constitute a confounding factor in GCF measurements of the respective enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Implant Biology, Dental School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. tsalikis@dent.auth.gr
authors.forename: Lazaros E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Tsalikis
authors.forename: Eleftherios G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kaklamanos
authors.forename: Smaragda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kavadia-Tsatala
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chasapopoulou
authors.forename: Ifigenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pidonia-Manika
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010519:Periodontium / Q000201:enzymology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase