Level of pain intensity, cytokine profiling and microbial load after photodynamic therapy in acute severe pericoronitis

Abstract

Aim: We evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (A-PDT) in the reduction of pain intensity and performed cytokine profiling and measurement of microbiological parameters in patients with acute pericoronitis.

Methods: Sixty patients with age range 14-19 years were randomized into two groups: 'A-PDT group' which received additional A-PDT with conventional protocol, and 'conventional protocol group' (CPG) without A-PDT. Present pain intensity (PPI) were investigated using McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Gingival crevicular fluid were sampled to evaluate the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Microbial plaque was collected to evaluate total counts of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia expressed as log colony forming unit (CFU)/mL. Level of pain intensity, cytokine profiling and microbial load were assessed at baseline (B0), and post treatment F₇ (Day 7) and F₁₄ (Day 14).

Results: A total of 59 patients (30 CPG and 29 A-PDT) completed the clinical trial. Present pain intensity scores statistically significantly reduced from B₀ to F₇ in both treatment groups (p < 0.05). For VAS, both groups showed statistically significant reduction in pain scores at F₁₄ only when compared with baseline (p < 0.05). There was no inter-group significant difference at any time point for either pain scores (p > 0.05). Only TNF-α showed statistically significant reduction with A-PDT compared to CPG at both F₇ and F₁₄. CPG group showed significant reduction for only T. forsythia at both follow-up points. The microbial counts for P. gingivalis and T. forsythia significantly reduced in A-PDT groups compared to CPG group at both F₇ and F₁₄.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that A-PDT may be a reliable treatment option in pericoronitis for the reduction of TNF-α and microbial load. However, A-PDT does not have any effect in the reduction of pain.

Keywords: Cytokines; Pain; Photochemotherapy; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Tannerella forsythia.