title: Efficacy of a chairside diagnostic test kit for estimation of C-reactive protein levels in periodontal disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein [CRP] levels increase to hundreds of mg/mL within hours following infection. Studies have shown that serum CRP levels were elevated in periodontal disease. However, in all the previous studies, CRP levels were measured by using high-sensitivity CRP assay kits with minimal detection limits of 0.1 to 3 mg/L, which was much below the normal value of 10 mg/L. These high-sensitivity CRP assays need a proper laboratory setup, and these methods cannot be used as a routine chair-side test in the dental office.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the serum CRP levels in subjects with periodontal disease by using a rapid chair-side diagnostic test kit with a lower detection limit of 6 mg/L and to compare the CRP levels before and after periodontal therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 systemically healthy subjects were selected for the study. Subjects were divided into three groups: group A: healthy controls, group B: gingivitis, group C: periodontitis. Serum levels of CRP were determined by using a latex slide agglutination method with commercially available kit with lower detection limit of 6 mg/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRP was negative in all the 15 subjects in groups A and B at baseline, 7th and 30th day. CRP was positive only in 2 subjects in Group C at baseline and 7th day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimation of serum CRP by using a rapid chair-side diagnostic test kit is not of any significance in subjects with periodontitis.
authors: Department of Periodontics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Girish
authors: G
authors: Nagarale
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ravindra
authors: Srinath
authors: S
authors: Thakur
authors: Swati
authors: S
authors: Setty