Abstract
Background: Tracking various biomarkers in serum, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and saliva has been introduced as a diagnostic
tool for periodontal disease detection.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in subjects with periodontal disease
and levels in subjects without periodontal disease.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 170 patients at Hamadan faculty of Dentistry, including patients with periodontal
disease and patients with normal periodontium, were selected and divided into test and control groups. Unstimulated saliva
was collected in the same situation from the test and control groups. Each saliva sample was analyzed to measure salivary LDH level
on the day of collection, by using commercially available kits according to the manufacturers’ instructions. A statistical T-test was
employed to evaluate significant differences among groups.
Results: The mean LDH levels in the test and control groups were 1071.67 ± 731.004 and 550.91 ± 217.215, respectively. As the level of
statistical significance was set at P < 0.05, data analysis showed a significant difference between the LDH enzymatic level in the test
and control groups (P = 0.000). Comparison of the LDH enzymatic level in subjects with different genders in the test and control
groups showed no significant differences (P = 0.340).
Conclusions: Salivary LDH levels can be used as marker of periodontal disease for screening periodontitis in large populations.