Specific
glycosidase activities were determined in samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected from eight predetermined sites in two groups, each of 20 adult patients, with either
gingivitis or
periodontitis. The total activities (as units of
enzyme activity per sample) of
alpha-L-fucosidase,
sialidase,
beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase,
beta-galactosidase,
beta-glucosidase and
alpha-glucosidase were significantly greater in the
periodontitis group. In contrast, the total
beta-mannosidase and
hexosaminidase A activities were significantly greater in the
gingivitis group, while there was no significant difference in the total
alpha-mannosidase activity between the groups. Only the specific activities (as units of
enzyme activity per min per microliter of GCF) of
beta-mannosidase and
hexosaminidase A were significantly different between the groups being greater in the
gingivitis group. When used to predict the clinical status of individual periodontal sites, the total
enzyme activities had specificity and sensitivity values of 91.9 and 61.3%, respectively. Measurement of
glycosidase activities might thus have a role in monitoring the efficacy of periodontal treatment or in predicting future
periodontal disease but this will require further investigation.