title: Vascular endothelial growth factor levels in gingival crevicular fluid before and after periodontal therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Of the various cytokines and growth factors regulating angiogenesis, the most potent agent acting on vascular endothelium is vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF). The present study aims to access VEGF concentration in periodontal diseases and the effect of periodontal therapy on its concentration in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety five subjects (47 females and 48 males) 25- 47 y of age were divided into healthy (group-1), gingivitis (group-2), and periodontitis (group-3). GCF samples were collected using micro-capillary pipettes & were transferred immediately to plastic vials and stored at -70˚C until the time of the assay. The concentration of VEGF was determined using commercially available ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VEGF concentration was highest in periodontitis patients (Group 3) (88.08±8.04pg/ml), with lowest in healthy patients (Group 1). VEGF levels reduced significantly after therapy in Groups 2 and 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF levels in GCF had a significant correlation with both periodontal disease progression and healing after therapy.
authors.affiliation: Head of the Department, Department of Periodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences , Virajpet, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: R
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Periodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences , Virajpet, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Annaji
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sreedhara
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontics, St. Joseph Dental College , Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Indeevar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: P
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Student, Department of Periodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences , Virajpet, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Indranil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Orthodontics, St. Joseph Dental College , Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Chetan S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Angiogenesis; Gingival crevicular fluid; Periodontitis; Vascular endothelial growth factor