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Objectives: To evaluate temporal changes in gingival blood flow (GBF) during progression of periodontitis in rats using a laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) approach and to characterize morphological and biochemical features in the periodontium associated with GBF. Materials and Methods: Forty‐two Wistar rats were divided into a ligature‐induced periodontitis group and a control group. To induce periodontitis, ligatures were tied around maxillary first molars bilaterally. GBF was measured in palatal gingiva at pretreatment and following ligature placement after 30 min, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days using LDF with a non‐contact probe. Bone loss and gene expression in gingival tissues were assessed using micro‐computed tomography (μCT) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Immunostaining for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the maxilla was also histologically evaluated. Results: GBF in the ligature group increased significantly compared with the control group 30 min after ligation. However, on days 3 and 7, GBF decreased in the ligature group. Also, after day 10, there was no difference in GBF between groups. The levels of alveolar bone loss, gene expression (interleukin‐6, cluster of differentiation‐31, VEGF‐A, and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor‐1), and immunostained VEGF‐positive vessels correlated well with changes in GBF. Conclusion Progression of Periodontitis: In rats was associated with a triphasic pattern of GBF, consisting of a short initial increase, followed by a rapid decrease, and then a gradual plateau phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The absence of bleeding on probing (BOP) is a good predictor of disease stability. This study investigated whether detection of hemoglobin (Hb) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) indicates minute signs of periodontal disease, even in BOP (−) cases. Materials and methods: GCF was collected from gingival sulci of 152 sound maxillary and mandibular teeth from 76 patients who had entered supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) using the split-mouth design. As clinical parameters, plaque index, GCF amount, gingival index, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level, BOP, and alveolar bone resorption ratio were then recorded. As biochemical parameters, Hb amount, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and protein amount in GCF were measured. Periodontal conditions of diseased sites (PD ≥ 4 mm, BOP (+)) and healthy sites (PD ≤ 4 mm, BOP (−)) were further classified into two groups using the Hb cutoff value determined by PD and BOP and analyzed. Results: Despite being healthy, ALP activity and protein amount in sulci of the group with Hb level greater than the cutoff value were significantly higher than those in the group with Hb level less than the cutoff value (P < 0.01). Conclusions: This study indicates that Hb examination is a promising candidate marker of pre-symptomatic periodontal disease because Hb presence in GCF suggests slight tissue damage, even in healthy sites defined as BOP (−). Clinical relevance: Hb examination of GCF is a powerful diagnostic tool for pre-symptomatic diagnosis of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]