title: Flow cytometry-based analysis by Sysmex-UF1000i® is an alternative method in the assessment of periodontal inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gingivitis is a common inflammatory condition. We explored the value of flow cytometry of saliva in patients with periodontal inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 249 healthy adults (age range: 18-81 y; 2.5th to 97.5th percentile: 19-66 y) was investigated for caries, dental plaque and gingivitis. Saliva was analyzed using flow cytometry on a Sysmex UF-1000i®.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sysmex UF-1000i® is capable to reproduce reliable measurements of cellular components in saliva. A statistically significant lower number of salivary bacteria was found in patients with gingivitis in comparison with healthy adults (p<0.0001). A significant difference in salivary leukocyte count was found between patients with different gingival index scores (p<0.0005). The gingivitis score was strongly dependent on the number of salivary leukocytes, the age of the patient and the degree of caries and dental plaque (r(2)=0.60, p<0.001). At a cut-off level of 10(3) leukocytes/μl saliva, an area under the curve of 0.82 was obtained with a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 78% in patients (>35 y) with a gingivitis score of 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flow cytometry is an alternative method to evaluate local inflammatory processes in the mouth with a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 78%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Renaat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coopman
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marijn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Speeckaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, University of WA, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: Johan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Aps
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: joris.delanghe@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Joris R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Delanghe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Flow cytometry; Gingivitis; Periodontitis; Saliva