Accuracy of aMMP‐8 point‐of‐care test in indicating periodontal treatment outcomes in stage III/IV periodontitis: A 24‐week follow‐up study

Objective To analyse the correspondence between aMMP‐8 PoC test results and the clinical endpoints of non‐surgical periodontal treatment in stage III/IV periodontitis. Background The diagnostic success of the active‐matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (aMMP‐8) point‐of‐care (PoC) test has been demonstrated in various studies, but the evidence of its accuracy following periodontal treatment is limited. Materials and methods Altogether 42 stage III/IV grade C periodontitis patients were included in this prospective diagnostic study. Clinical periodontal indices were recorded, aMMP‐8 PoC test was applied and mouthrinse was collected before and at 6, 12 and 24 weeks after non‐surgical periodontal treatment. Quantitative aMMP‐8 levels were determined with immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) for the verification of the PoC test results. The accuracy of the aMMP‐8 PoC test was assessed using previously established clinical endpoints as references. Results Sensitivity and specificity of aMMP‐8 PoC test to indicate clinical endpoints were ranged as follows: Sensitivity 71.4% at baseline, 39.3%–42.4% at week 6, 28.6%–32.4% at week 12 and 35.3%–42.9% at week 24; specificity 64.3%–80% at week 6, 40%–57.1% at week 12 and 56%–64.3% at week 24. Conclusions The accuracy of aMMP‐8 PoC test in identifying clinical endpoints after non‐surgical periodontal treatment is reduced in relation to baseline. Individual healing patterns of each diseased pocket eventually limit the accuracy of the dichotomous aMMP‐8 oral rinse test during the post‐treatment period.