Using PAI-2 and t-PA as diagnostic markers of periodontal disease

摘要

A method of diagnosing periodontal disease, comprises: a) determining the level of a protein in individual gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples, each sample being obtained from one of various sites of a patient, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of: i) tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and ii) plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) and b) obtaining the mean level of the protein in the GCF and using the mean level to diagnose periodontal disease whereby periodontitis is distinguished from gingivitis. The GCF is collected locally from two or more sites of the patient selected from the mesial sites, the buccal and labial sites on the lower teeth. The level of the compound is determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Step b) can further include comparing the mean level of the protein in the GCF from the patient with a predetermined mean level of the protein in the GCF from a healthy individual. A statistically significant increase of the mean level of the protein in the GCF indicates the presence of periodontal disease.