The effect of ketoprofen creams on periodontal disease in rhesus monkeys

Ketoprofen creams were evaluated for the treatment of periodontal disease in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study in the rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta. Two formulations containing ketoprofen (1%), with or without vitamin E, were evaluated against appropriate controls (8 monkeys per group). Two weeks prior to treatment, the animals received prophylaxis on only the left side of the mouth (spontaneous model). Selected teeth on the right side of the mouth were ligated (ligature model). The creams were administered to the gingiva once daily at a standard dose of 1.8 ml per monkey for 6 months. Clinical assessments were made 2 wk before initiation, at baseline and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. The clinical parameters included plaque formation, gingival redness, edema, bleeding on probing and Ramfjord Attachment Level measurements (RAL). Radiographs were taken at 2 wk before initiation, baseline and at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Digital subtraction radiography was used to measure vertical linear bone loss along the interproximal root surfaces of the left and right mandibular first molars. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected for biochemical assays on PGE₂, TxB₂, LTB₄, IL-1β and TNFα. There were no significant differences among groups with respect to gingival indices. Radiographic data demonstrated significant positive effects on bone activity in both groups treated with ketoprofen formulations with improvement over time in the ligature model (0.01 ≤p≤ 0.04). The placebo group exhibited bone loss of 1.96±0.48 and 1.40±0.56 mm per site at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The group treated with ketoprofen cream showed an apparent bone gain of 0.28±0.41 and 0.78±0.47 mm per site at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The group treated with ketoprofen cream containing vitamin E showed a mean bone loss of 0.41–0.48 mm per site at 3 months with improvement to an apparent bone gain of 0.31±0.44 mm per site at 6 months. The biochemical data demonstrated early and significant suppression of GCF-LTB₄ by both ketoprofen formulations at 1 month, which preceded the significant suppression of GCF-PGE₂ at 2 and 3 months in the ligature model (p≤0.003) and at 2 to 6 months in the spontaneous model (p≤0.02). We conclude that ketoprofen at 1% level in suitable topical vehicles can effectively inhibit GCF-LTB₄ and GCF-PGE₂ and positively alter alveolar bone activity in the ligature-induced model of periodontitis in the monkey.