Enzyme activity in whole saliva of
trypsin-like
protease,
elastase-like
protease, general
protease, and three
glycosidases was measured by colorimetric assays, using synthetic substrates. A study group of 24 adults with advanced
periodontitis was compared to a control group of 25 subjects with healthy periodontium. Clinical parameters and levels of
enzyme activity were assessed at baseline, after non-surgical periodontal
therapy (at 8 months), following the maintenance phase or periodontal surgery (at 15 months), and after the maintenance phase with or without systemic
chemotherapy (at 20 months). The mean values of the proteolytic enzymatic activity and the activity of two
glycosidases in whole saliva were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group at baseline. After the initial treatment phase at 8 months, all three
proteases were reduced significantly, but the
glycosidases were still high. After all treatment phases at 20 months, the activity of both the
proteases and
glycosidases approximated the values of the healthy group. In the saliva samples collected prior to treatment and following non-surgical periodontal
therapy, the activity of salivary
elastase correlated significantly with the number of deep
gingival pockets (PD > or = 6 mm) and with either gingival index (GI) or the percentage of
bleeding sites (BOP%). The
enzyme activity in whole saliva appears to reflect the status of periodontal health. Salivary
elastase shows good potential to serve as a novel adjunct to detect destructive periodontal
inflammation and to follow periodontal healing
after treatment.