title: Immunocompetent cell level as a diagnostic reference for pulpal pathosis of primary teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to measure changes in the level of immunocompetent cells as healthy pulp becomes inflamed in order to evaluate the use of CD4+/CD8+ and B/CD3+ lymphocyte ratios as a diagnostic reference for pulpal pathosis in primary teeth pulp.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on clinical and radiographic examinations, 113 carious and non-carious primary teeth were grouped as healthy teeth, teeth with reversible pulpitis and teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Following dental extraction, pulp samples were collected from all teeth, and 81 of the samples were found to be suitable for flow-cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subset. Kolmogorov-Smirnov's test, One-way ANOVA and Tukey's Post Hoc tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis revealed no increases in the mean percentages of T, B and CD4+ lymphocytes in inflamed pulp when compared to healthy pulp. However, both CD8+ and NK cell numbers decreased in line with progressive inflammation. Whereas the CD4+/CD8+ ratios increased in accordance with the severity of pulpitis, B/T ratios remained unaffected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunocompetent cell levels did not change in line with progressive inflammation; therefore, the use of CD4+/CD8+ and B/CD3+ lymphocyte ratios cannot be used as a diagnostic reference for pulpal pathosis in primary teeth.
authors.affiliation: University of Ankara, Faculty of Dentistry, Departments of Pedodontics, 06500 Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey. duruturk@dentistry.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Durutürk
authors.forename: Saziye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarı
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sengül
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
keywords: Dental pulp; Immune cells; Primary teeth