Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Periodontal Disease

Abstract

Gingival fluid and serum were collected from 23 patients with periodontitis. The depths of the periodontal pockets were measured on the upper incisor teeth, while the amount of bone loss was evaluated on radiographs. The degree of gingival inflammation and the amount of supragingival calculus were also measured in the same region. Assays of alkaline phosphatase activity have shown that gingival fluid contains 2 to 3 times more enzyme than serum. A positive statistically significant correlation was found between the concentration of alkaline phosphatase in gingival exudate and the depths of periodontal pockets. The correlation between enzyme concentration in gingival fluid and bone loss was positive but not significant. This was also true for the correlation between the enzyme concentration in crevicular fluid and the amount of supragingival calculus. No correlation was found between the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the fluid and the degree of gingival inflammation.