John G. Collins

Modulation of Host PGE2 Secretion as a Determinant of Periodontal Disease Expression

An increasing body of evidence supports the concept that host-produced PGE2 mediates much of the tissue destruction that occurs in periodontal disease. PGE2 levels within the crevicular fluid can serve as a static assessment of ongoing disease activity; i.e., rate of attachment loss and bone resorption. New insights into the mechanisms that regulate PGE2 synthesis provide an altered paradigm of periodontal disease which places the emphasis on host response, rather than the bacterial etiology, as the principal determinant of disease expression. We describe a PGE2 host response model as a hypothetical framework to discuss new, possible explanations for host susceptibility to periodontal disease. J Periodontol 1993;64:432-444.

Diagnostic Potential of Host Response Mediators

This review summarizes the data which relate the validation and application of host response markers as diagnostic tests forperiodontal diseases. Practical considerations regarding the general application and evaluation of a diagnostic test for periodontal disease are presented. Experiments which have documented the performance of host response markers as diagnostic measures of disease activity in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values are summarized. Particular emphasis is placed on the diagnostic potential of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) components. The considerable body of evidence supporting the potential application of GCF-PGE2 levels for predicting episodes of disease progression and reflecting disease activity is summarized and placed into perspective for the development of future diagnostic tools.