Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-4 levels in healthy sites and sites exhibiting signs of moderate and advanced generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) in the same subject.
Methods: The following sites were selected for crevicular fluid sampling in the same AgP subject (n = 14): Healthy sites (HS): no marginal bleeding or bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) <or= 3 mm; Moderate sites (MS): BOP and PD between 4 and 6 mm; Advanced sites (AS): BOP and PD >or= 7 mm. One site from periodontally healthy subjects (n = 13) was sampled for use as a control. TNF-alpha and IL-4 levels were measured using ELISA.
Results: The total amount of TNF-alpha was lower for control sites, while there were no differences among healthy and diseased sites from GAgP subjects (P < 0.05). The concentration of TNF-alpha was higher in HS, in relation to the other sites (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the groups regarding total amounts of IL-4 (P > 0.05), while IL-4 concentration was significantly higher in control sites, when compared with sites from GAgP subjects (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, high levels of TNF-alpha and low levels of IL-4 were observed in both healthy and diseased sites within the same generalized AgP individuals.