Prediction and diagnosis of attachment loss by enhanced chemiluminescent assay of crevicular fluid alkaline phosphatase levels

. The current study aimed to apply a novel enhanced chemiluminescence assay in the analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels from patients with untreated adult periodontitis. 3666 sites in 25 patients were monitored prior to and after attachment loss was detected with a Florida disc probe. Parameters assessed were, relative attachment level, probing pocket depth, occurrence of bleeding on probing (single episode), GCF volume (μl), total ALP levels (μIU/30 s sample time) and ALP concentration (IU/l). After recruiting patients to the study, all measures were taken at baseline and 3 months later, prior to the institution of non‐surgical periodontal therapy at active sites. Thresholds for determining attachment loss were calculated using a modification of the tolerance method. The mesio‐buccal sites of all teeth had GCF samples collected. The size of individual patient thresholds used to define whether attachment loss had occurred, was dependent upon the discomfort felt by that patient during electronic probing, with a positive correlation existing between discomfort on probing (10 cm visual analogue scale) and threshold size (R=0.52, p