Evaluation of association between Porphyromonas gingivalis and visfatin levels in chronic periodontitis patients

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease is one of the most common prevailing diseases, where the destruction occurs due to the direct effect of microorganisms and indirectly by the stimulation of host cells. The diverse inflammatory action of visfatin made this adipokine a potential periodontal biomarker of choice along with the periopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. AIM: Our study was carried out to evaluate the visfatin levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and P. gingivalis levels in subgingival plaque in periodontal health and disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 participants were divided into two groups of thirty participants each as Group I – patients who have healthy periodontium and Group II – patients with generalized chronic periodontitis. The clinical parameters assessed for the participants were plaque index, probing pocket depth, papillary bleeding index, and clinical attachment loss. The subgingival plaque samples were obtained to estimate P. gingivalis levels and GCF was collected to check visfatin levels. RESULTS: The clinical parameters, P. gingivalis, and GCF visfatin levels between the two groups showed a notable significant difference. A significant positive correlation was noted on the correlation of GCF visfatin levels with clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: Our study outcomes propose that P. gingivalis can be the bonafide periopathogen which modulate the visfatin levels in individuals with periodontal disease and GCF visfatin can also be evaluated as a biomarker in periodontal disease.