title: Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of class II furcation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjunct to mechanical therapy in furcations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in subjects presenting class II furcations. The subjects were randomly allocated to a test (PDT; n = 16) or control group (non-activated laser/only photosensitizer; n = 21). At baseline, 3 and 6 months, clinical, microbiological and cytokine pattern evaluation was performed. Clinical attachment level was defined as the primary outcome variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical parameters improved after both therapies (p < 0.05) with no differences between groups at any time point (p > 0.05). At 6 months, real-time PCR evaluation showed a decrease in Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia only in the PDT group (p < 0.05) with no inter-group differences. Regarding cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased in both groups at 6 months. GM-CSF, IL-8, IL-1β and IL-6 levels decreased only in the PDT group after 3 months (p < 0.05). At 3 months, inter-group analyses showed that GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were lower in the PDT group. At 6 months, lower IL-1β levels were also observed in the PDT group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photodynamic therapy did not promote clinical benefits for class II furcations; however, advantages in local levels of cytokines and a reduction in periodontopathogens were demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Luchesi
authors.forename: Suzana P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kolbe
authors.forename: Fernanda V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Renato C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Casarin
authors.forename: Francisco H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Nociti
authors.forename: Enilson A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sallum
authors.forename: Marcio Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Casati
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
keywords: chronic periodontitis; cytokines; furcation defects; microbiology; periodontal pocket; photochemotherapy; root planing