title: Comparative evaluation of C-reactive protein in peripheral blood of patients with healthy gingiva, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis: A clinical and particle-enhanced turbidimetric immuno-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase protein monitored as a marker of inflammatory status, has been identified as a major risk factor for various systemic diseases. It is a reliable marker to infectious burdens and/or inflammation. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the systemic levels of CRP in the serum sample of the patients with healthy gingiva, gingivitis, and chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 systemically healthy patients were selected and divided into three groups: Patients with healthy gingiva (Group A), patients with generalized gingivitis (Group B) and patients with chronic periodontitis (Group C). Peripheral blood was collected and high-sensitive (hs)-CRP levels were estimated in the serum samples by using the particle-enhanced turbidimetric immuno-assay technique using a commercially available kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean hs-CRP level in Group A recorded was 0.437 ± 0.216, Group B was 0.771 ± 0.384 and Group C was 2.285 ± 0.381. A significantly elevated hs-CRP level was found in Group C as compared with Group B and A (P < 0.05). However, a moderate, but statistically significant increase in the hs-CRP levels was observed in Group B as compared with Group A (P < 0.05). The percentage of patients with elevated levels of hs-CRP >2 mg/l was significantly higher in Group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with chronic periodontitis demonstrated a mean hs-CRP levels higher than the patients with gingivitis and with healthy gingiva. Furthermore, with the increasing inflammation, the hs-CRP levels increased proportionately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Uttaranchal Dental and Medical Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Tushika
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dhruvakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
keywords: Acute-phase reaction; chronic periodontitis; gingivitis; high-sensitive C-reactive protein; particle-enhanced turbidimetric immuno-assay technique