Oral rinse MMP‐8 point‐of‐care immuno test identifies patients with strong periodontal inflammatory burden

Oral Diseases (2010) 17 , 115–122 Objective: To determine whether oral rinse matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐8 levels, measured by three different methods, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease‐1 (TIMP‐1) levels and elastase activity differentiate subjects with different periodontal condition; and second, to find out if MMP‐8 levels were comparable among the methods used. Methods: MMP‐8 levels were analysed with an immunofluorometric method (IFMA), dentoELISA and commercial ELISA. Also TIMP‐1 levels and elastase activity were measured. For statistical analysis 214 study subjects were categorized into four groups, specified by the presence and number of moderate (4–5 mm) and deep (≥6 mm) periodontal pockets, and bleeding on probing percentage. Results: MMP‐8 levels especially measured by dentoELISA and adjusted to the number of teeth per subject differentiated the study group with strong periodontal inflammatory burden from groups with lower levels. This was also verified with receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) analysis. Elastase activity associated with higher IFMA and dentoELISA MMP‐8 levels. IFMA MMP‐8/TIMP and dentoELISA MMP‐8/TIMP‐1 tended to be higher with the increasing level of periodontal inflammatory burden. TIMP‐1 levels decreased with increasing age. Conclusions: Oral rinse MMP‐8 together with TIMP‐1 analysis may have potential in complementary periodontal diagnostics. dentoELISA can be applied in quantitative oral rinse chair side biomarker diagnostics.