Comparison of the Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-17 in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Peri-implantitis and a Control Group with Healthy Implants

Peri-implantitis is a multi-factorial disease involving peri-implant tissues and resulting in therapeutic failure. Inflammatory mediators and cytokines in the Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) have pivotal roles in the disease pathogenesis and could be used for disease monitoring. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare the GCF levels of TNF-α and IL-17 between patients with peri-implantitis and healthy implants. In this case-control study, 24 patients with peri-implantitis and 18 individuals with healthy implants referring to faculty of dentistry in Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected. GCF was collected by paper cons number 30. Samples were preserved in PBS -70ºC. TNF-α and IL-17 levels in GCF were determined by ELISA method. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 13, using descriptive indices and independent t tests. Mean probing depth in peri-implantitis and control groups were 6.2 ± 1.1 and 3.7 ± 1.6 mm respectively. Mean level of IL-17 in patients with peri-implantitis was significantly more than the control group (19.8 ± 16.0 versus 9.3 ± 8.4 pg per site in 40 seconds, p=0.016). Also, mean level of TNF-α in patients with peri-implantitis was more than control group (39.0 ± 3.9 versus 14.5 ± 9.0 pg per site in 40 seconds, p =0.000). The significant higher levels of TNF-α and IL-17 in patients with peri-implantitis compared to control group indicated the pivotal role of these cytokines in peri-implantitis and could be suggested as diagnostic markers and in future possibly for immunomodulatory treatments.