title: Periodontal pathogenic bacteria and aMMP-8 findings depending on periodontal conditions of patients before and after liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this single-center cross-sectional study was to detect the prevalence of selected periodontal pathogenic bacteria and active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) level in patients before (preLTx) and after liver transplantation (postLTx).
  
  
  METHODS
  Periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were assessed. Subgingival biofilm samples were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect 11 common periodontal pathogens. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine aMMP-8 level and assigned to a scoring system: score 0: 0-8 ng/ml, score 1: 8-20 ng/ml, and score 2: >20 ng/ml. The following were used for the statistical analysis: t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fishers test (α = 5 %).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 110 patients (preLTx: n = 35, postLTx: n = 75) could be included in the study. Periodontal findings were not significantly different between groups. In microbiological analysis, a significantly higher prevalence of Campylobacter rectus in preLTx group was detected (p = 0.03). Significantly more patients with score 0 in postLTx group (p = 0.024) and significantly more patients with score 1 in preLTx group were found (p = 0.004). Furthermore, aMMP-8 concentrations for patients with moderate periodontitis were significantly lower in postLTx group compared to preLTx group (p = 0.045). Additionally, in postLTx group, aMMP-8 concentration was significantly higher in patients with severe periodontitis compared to those with no/mild periodontitis (p = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTx appears to affect aMMP-8 level, but not bacterial findings in patients after LTx.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of aMMP-8 level in patients after LTx with immunosuppressive medication might lead to wrong interpretation of the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. dirk.ziebolz@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziebolz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmalz
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kauffels
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.|Department of General and Visceral Surgery, St. Ingbert County Hospital, St. Ingbert, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Slotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mausberg
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.|Department of General and Visceral Surgery, HELIOS Dr. Horst Schmidt-Kliniken, Wiesbaden, Germany.
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kollmar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018441:Biofilms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000382:microbiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C488762:MMP8 protein, human; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8
keywords: Immunosuppression; Liver transplantation; Matrix metalloproteinase-8; Microbiology; Periodontal health