Gingival crevicular fluid levels of sclerostin, osteoprotegerin, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand in periodontitis

Background: To investigate changes in the levels and relative ratios of sclerostin, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontitis after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Methods: Fifty-four individuals (27 healthy controls and 27 patients with chronic periodontitis [CP]) were enrolled in the study. Periodontitis patients received non-surgical periodontal therapy. GCF sampling and clinical periodontal parameters were assessed before and 6 weeks after therapy. Sclerostin, OPG, and RANKL levels were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, and their relative ratios were calculated. Results: Total amounts and concentrations of sclerostin were significantly higher in patients with CP than in healthy individuals (P 0.05). The sclerostin/OPG and sclerostin/RANKL ratios were significantly lower in healthy individuals than in patients with periodontitis before and after treatment (P <0.025) and decreased in patients with periodontitis after treatment (P