Lipoxin A4 as a Potential Predictive Marker for Treatment Outcomes in Severe Periodontitis: A Longitudinal Study

Lipoxin A4 as a Potential Predictive Marker for Treatment Outcomes in Severe Periodontitis: A Longitudinal Study

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the changes in lipoxin A4 (LXA4) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) following scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with severe periodontitis. Furthermore, it seeks to determine the relationship between LXA4 levels and treatment outcomes.

Methods: Seventy-four GCF samples were collected from the deepest affected sites of 21 participants with severe periodontitis. These sites were re-sampled at 1, 3, and 6 months after SRP. Correlations between GCF LXA4 levels and clinical parameters, including pocket depth and clinical attachment level, were assessed.

Results: LXA4 levels in GCF significantly increased after SRP, but remained lower than those observed in healthy individuals or gingivitis patients. Lower baseline LXA4 concentrations were associated with greater improvements in pocket depth and clinical attachment level at 6 months post-SRP. These improvements were positively correlated with the increase of LXA4 at these sites after treatment. Moreover, elevated LXA4 levels were observed in sites that became negative for Prevotella intermedia or Tannerella forsythia after SRP.

Conclusion: LXA4 in GCF shows promise as a potential predictive marker for assessing the site-specific response of severe periodontal lesions to SRP. This could aid in risk assessment and personalized treatment planning. The application of LXA4 as a therapeutic agent in periodontitis may be more effective after SRP has been performed.