Plasma osteoprotegerin levels are decreased in smoker chronic periodontitis patients

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappa B ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in smoker versus non‐smoker chronic periodontitis patients. Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 13 smoker and 31 non‐smoker systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients, as well as 13 smoker and 29 non‐smoker systemically and periodontally healthy subjects. Before commencing any periodontal intervention, venous blood samples were obtained and whole‐mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. sRANKL and OPG concentrations in plasma samples were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Data were tested statistically by student’s t test, Wilcoxon matched pairs test, and Spearman’s correlation analysis. Results: All clinical periodontal measurements were significantly higher in chronic periodontitis groups than the healthy controls (p 0.05). Smoker chronic periodontitis patients exhibited significantly lower (p = 0.007) plasma OPG concentrations and higher sRANKL/OPG ratio (p = 0.01) than smoker healthy controls. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, periodontal inflammation in smoker chronic periodontitis patients seems to lower plasma osteoprotegerin levels and thereby increase the RANKL/OPG ratio, and possibly play a role in the increased susceptibility for alveolar bone destruction in smoker subjects.