Correlations between clinical parameters and interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels in saliva from totally edentulous patients with peri-implant disease

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was (1) to assess the relationship between clinical parameters and concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the saliva of totally edentulous patients with implant-supported overdentures; (2) to assess whether estimation of IL-6 and IL-10 levels in saliva could be a useful laboratory tool to detect changes preceding serious clinical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy adult volunteers (14 men and 16 women) with implant-supported overdentures were recruited from Tallinn Dental Clinic. The biochemical and clinical parameters evaluated were the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in saliva, pocket probing depth (mm), Gingival Index (0,1, 2, or 3), and bleeding on probing (0 or 1). RESULTS: The level of IL-6 in saliva in the peri-implant disease group was significantly elevated compared to the healthy group. IL-10 could be detected only in the saliva of patients with peri-implant disease, and it did not appear at detectable amounts in saliva of healthy controls. In addition, the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in peri-implant disease group were positively correlated with clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a significant relationship exists between the amount of a proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and the inflammatory response in peri-implant tissue. The results also suggest that IL-6 and IL-10 could be used as markers of peri-implant disease together and that the level of the latter cytokine gives additional information about the potency of an organism's integrated immune response for maintenance of inflammatory balance.