Key words:
Lymphocyte count - periodontal pocket - platelet-rich plasma
INTRODUCTION
Chronic periodontitis (CP) is “an infectious disease resulting in inflammation within
the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment, and bone loss.”[1]
Progression of CP is depending on the virulent microorganisms and host response to
pathogenic infection.[2] Scaling and root planing considered as a conventional nonsurgical treatment of periodontal
diseases.[3] Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, concentrated platelets from autologous blood
activated by the addition of thrombin and calcium, works to improve periodontal ligament
cell production and protein development, which will lead to accelerating periodontal
wound healing.[4]
When PRP activated, the growth factors and proteins released to the local environment,
accelerating postoperative wound healing and tissue repair.[5]
Examination of the connective tissue during periodontal disease under a microscope
reveals a disruption of the normal anatomy of the connective tissues by a huge infiltration
of numerous defense cells, particularly neutrophils, macrophages, plasma cells, and
lymphocytes with the extracellular release of their destructive enzymes.[6] Changes in leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte numbers used as a healing monitor
during periodontal treatment.[7]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of PRP in the treatment
of pockets, as an adjunct to scaling and root planing, by measuring the lymphocyte
count before and after treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sample selection and study design
Twenty patients involved in this study. All patients had CP, according to the periodontal
disease classification system of the American Academy of Periodontology,[8] and a pocket depth equal to or more than 4 mm. All patients have no history of any
systemic diseases. Patients’ age ranged from 25 to 50 years. The gender distributed
equally between females and males.
The exclusion criteria included smokers, alcohol drinkers, pregnant women, a pathological
condition in the area, and patients on medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs
or antibiotic treatments within the past 3 months. All these conditions affect the
lymphocyte count.
Patient preparation and stent fabrication
Informed consents were taken. All patients subjected to the conventional periodontal
treatment such as motivation, instruction, and supragingival and subgingival scaling.
Impressions were taken for occlusal stent fabrication to standardize the readings
for the same site throughout the visits. The stent was made from thermal-forming splint/copolyester
with 1-mm thickness.
Clinical periodontal parameter recording
In the first visit, before root planing, periodontal parameters such as plaque index
(PLI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD),
and relative attachment level (RAL) were recorded as a baseline before PRP application.
The stent adjusted to cover two-thirds of the crown. RAL was recorded from the lower
border of the stent to the deepest point of the pocket. In the second visit, after
1 month from PRP application, all periodontal parameters were recorded again.
Platelet-rich plasma preparation
Seven milliliters of blood was taken from each patient at the first visit to prepare
the PRP and to estimate lymphocyte count. One milliliter of blood was used to estimate
the lymphocyte count, and 6 ml of blood was distributed into three sodium citrate
vacuum tubes (each tube with 2 ml), with a gentle rocking of the tubes back and forth
several times to ensure the complete incorporation of blood with the anticoagulant.
The blood then was subjected to centrifuge at two cycles.[9] The first cycle was at 3000 rounds/min (rpm) for 5 min, and then, the plasma supernatant
layer (which contains platelets and white blood cells) was taken and put it in a plain
tube ready to the second cycle. The second cycle was at 3500 rpm for 15 min. The upper
two-thirds of the solution was discarded and the lower third (which contains the red
spot and platelet pallets) was taken as a pure PRP.
Using insulin syringe, 10% of the syringe volume was filled with calcium chloride
(activator) and 90% by PRP added slowly, with forth and back motion to mix the syringe
contents.
Platelet-rich plasma application
After anesthetizing the affected tooth, root planing was done using universal curette.
PRP was injected into the pocket. Slight pressure applied to the area using moist
gauze for 5 min, for a clot to be formed.[10]
Lymphocyte count
In the first visit, 1 ml was used to estimate lymphocyte count. In the second visit,
1 ml of blood also used to estimate lymphocyte count after 1 month from PRP application.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was made with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
(version 20.0; Armonk, New York, 2011).[11] Both descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and percentage) and inferential statistics
(i-test and Pearson correlation) were used. The relationship considered statistically
significant if P < 0.05.
RESULTS
The clinical periodontal parameters (PLI, GI, BOP, PPD, and RAL) were shown a reduction
in their mean values after 1 month from the treatment with the PRP, with a highly
significant difference [Table 1]. During this period (1 month), no complications had been observed.
Table 1:
Differences between the clinical periodontal parameters at the baseline and 1 month
after the application of platelet-rich plasma
|
Variables
|
Mean±SD
|
t*
|
P
|
|
Baseline
|
After 1 month
|
|
*One sample t-test. HS: Highly significant, SD: Standard deviation, PLI: Plaque index, GI: Gingival
index, BOP: Bleeding on probing, PPD: Probing pocket depth, RAL: Relative attachment
level
|
|
PLI
|
0.84±0.22
|
0.76±0.21
|
17.19
|
<0.000 (HS)
|
|
GI
|
1.75±0.25
|
1.38±0.20
|
30.84
|
<0.000 (HS)
|
|
BOP %
|
74.58±28.22
|
38.82±21.50
|
4.50
|
<0.000 (HS)
|
|
PPD
|
5.13±0.67
|
4.41±0.73
|
33.84
|
<0.000 (HS)
|
|
RAL
|
8.72±2.27
|
7.89±2.31
|
17.19
|
<0.000 (HS)
|
There was a marked reduction in the lymphocyte count at baseline (2.47 ± 0.91) and
after 1 month (1.94 ± 0.77), with a highly significant difference (P = <0.000) between
them [Table 2].
Table 2:
Differences between the lymphocyte count at the baseline and 1 month after the application
of platelet-rich plasma
|
Variables
|
Mean±SD
|
t*
|
P
|
|
Baseline
|
After 1 month
|
|
*One sample t-test. HS: Highly significant; SD: Standard deviation
|
|
Lymphocyte count
|
2.47±0.91
|
1.94±0.77
|
12.14
|
<0.000 (HS)
|
When the amount of plaque increased, the lymphocyte count is also increased leading
to increase in the gingival inflammation and destruction of the periodontium [Table 3].
Table 3:
Pearson correlation between lymphocyte count and clinical periodontal parameters
|
Variables
|
Statistical analysis
|
PLI
|
GI
|
BOP
|
PPD
|
RAL
|
|
r Pearson correlation, PLI: Plaque index, GI: Gingival index, BOP: Bleeding on probing,
PPD: Probing pocket depth, RAL: Relative attachment level
|
|
Lymphocyte count
|
r
|
0.24
|
0.15
|
0.21
|
0.01
|
-0.14
|
|
P
|
0.30
|
0.50
|
0.36
|
0.93
|
0.55
|
DISCUSSION
Many articles had studied the regeneration property of PRP.[12] El-Sharkawy et al., in 2007, demonstrated that PRP may suppress cytokine release, limit inflammation,
and promote tissue regeneration.[13] Tavassoli-Hojjati et al., in 2016, concluded that the growth-stimulating effect of PRP is dose dependent with
the best results in low concentrations.[14] On the other hand, the results of in vitro study by Kobayashi et al., in 2017, suggest that PRP promoted gingival fibroblast migration and proliferation
but have little to no effect on osteoblast differentiation.[15]
Our study results showed a decrease in the mean value of clinical periodontal parameters
(PLI, GI, BOP, PPD, and RAL) after 1 month of using PRP. This result could be due
to the growth factors that released from the platelets which accelerate the healing
process.[10]
[13]
There was a noticeable decrease in lymphocyte concentration after PRP treatment; this
is because the platelets in the PRP release a considerable amount of RANTES (a major
monocyte chemoattractant) from its alpha-granules. RANTES also inhibits many cytokines
released by basophils,[10]
[16] resolution of inflammation, and decrease in the concentration of lipoxin A4 (anti-inflammatory marker) which in turn depress the number of inflammatory cells.[13]
Concerning the correlation between the lymphocyte count and clinical periodontal parameters,
the study revealed a direct proportion between lymphocyte count and PLI, GI, BOP,
and PPD; when the PLI, GI, and BOP scores increase, they indicate that the bacterial
toxins, the inflammatory process, and the lymphocyte count are also increased.
CONCLUSION
PRP has anti-inflammatory properties; it decreases the inflammation and accelerates
the healing process. As a result, it will decrease the pocket depth and increase the
attachment gain.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
