Gingival inflammation and interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in gingival crevicular fluid during the menstrual cycle.
BACKGROUND
Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause may impact periodontal tissues by altering the host response. There are only a few studies that examined gingival changes during the menstrual cycle. This longitudinal and prospective study aims to investigate clinical and laboratory markers of gingival inflammation in women at different phases during their menstrual cycles.


METHODS
Twenty-seven females were included in this study. Subjects were given oral hygiene instructions before the study, and their plaque index scores were recorded once a week for 2 months. The duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle were also checked at the same time. The gingival index and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. Probing depths were measured to assess the periodontal condition of the subjects. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected to analyze the levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the first menstruation day (MD), estimated ovulation day (OD), and estimated predominant progesterone secretion day (PgD). These exact menstrual cycle days were determined according to serum progesterone and estradiol levels.


RESULTS
BOP and IL-1beta levels in GCF showed significant increases from the MD to PgD under optimal plaque control. Among the 12 subjects that had premenstrual symptoms, six subjects reported oral complaints during the premenstrual period, whereas apthous lesions were more frequent during the menstruation period.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that the fluctuation of sex steroid hormones impact gingival inflammation during menstruation.
Baser
Ulku
U
Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. baserulku@hotmail.com
Cekici
Ali
A
Tanrikulu-Kucuk
Sevda
S
Kantarci
Alpdogan
A
Ademoglu
Evin
E
Yalcin
Funda
F
D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000276:immunology*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000276:immunology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010060:Ovulation / Q000276:immunology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol