Analysis of interleukin-1a level in the severity of chronic periodontitis influenced by smoking habit

The accumulation of plaque that triggers the inflammatory and immune responses to bacterial plaque is a major cause of gingivitis and periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis is an infectious disease that causes inflammation of tissues supporting the teeth. The role of interleukin-1a (IL-1α) in chronic periodontitis and in smokers is unclear. This study aimed to analyse the IL-1a level in two categories, namely in chronic periodontitis and also in the smoker. A cross-sectional study of 104 subjects with chronic periodontitis, aged 33-78 years old, was conducted in the Teaching Dental Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia. Clinical data (Oral Hygiene Index score, pocket depth and Clinical Attachment Level), smoking status and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected, and the IL-1a level was detected by the ELISA test. No significant differences in the IL-1α level were found between the periodontitis groups of smokers and non-smokers (p=.70). No significant differences were also found between the group of smokers with mild-moderate and the severe periodontitis group (p=.06). Conversely, significant differences were observed in the group of non-smokers with mild-moderate periodontitis and the severe periodontitis group (p=.02). A relationship exists between the IL-1a level and the severity of chronic periodontitis but not smoking status.