Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripical tissue exudates of teeth with apical periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in periapical exudates and to evaluate their relationship with radiological findings.


METHODS
Periapical exudates were collected from root canals of 60 single-rooted teeth using absorbent paper points. TNF-alpha levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The samples were divided into three groups according to the periapical radiolucent area.


RESULTS
Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between TNF-alpha concentrations in control group (40, 57+/-28, 15 pg/mL) and group with larger radiolucent areas (2365, 79+/-582, 95 pg/mL), as well as between control and canals with small radiolucent areas (507, 66+/-278, 97) (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of TNF-alpha increase significantly in teeth with periapical pathosis, from smaller to bigger lesions. This research and its results have shown that objective analysis of the TNF-alpha levels enables establishment of a relationship between different concentrations of TNF-alpha and different radiological changes.
Pezelj-Ribarić
Sonja
S
Department of Oral Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia. sonja.pezelj-ribaric@medri.hr
Magasić
Karolina
K
Prpić
Jelena
J
Miletić
Ivana
I
Karlović
Zoran
Z
D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha