*Main purpose: to determine the levels of Interleukin-17 and Interleukin-18 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of stage III/IV, molar/incisor pattern periodontitis patients matched to their levels in periodontally healthy individuals.
Subjects and methods: Fifty subjects were included; 25 of them are diagnosed with stage III/IV, molar/incisor pattern periodontitis patients and 25 are periodontally healthy subjects. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were recorded for all the enrolled subjects at baseline and after three months following non surgical treatment in the tested periodontitis group. GCF levels of IL-17 and IL-18 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and after three months following non surgical treatment in the stage III/IV, molar/incisor pattern periodontitis group.
Results: Clinical parameters and GCF levels of IL-17 and IL-18 were higher in stage III/IV, molar/incisor pattern periodontitis than periodontally healthy subjects . Both IL-17 and IL-18 were decreased after non surgical treatment of the stage III/IV, molar/incisor pattern periodontitis group. So, this proved that both IL-17 and IL-18 are positively correlated to the clinical parameters and both interleukins are positively correlated with each other and have a role in periodontal disease pathogenesis.
Conclusion: IL-17 and IL-18 are important proinflammatory cytokines of periodontal disease and either one of them can be used as a potential biomarker of stage III/IV, molar/incisor pattern periodontitis.