Níveis de cortisol sanguíneo após tratamento periodontal em pacientes com periodontite crônica ou agressiva: estudo piloto Blood cortisol levels after periodontal treatment in patients with chronic or aggressive periodontitis: A pilot study

Purpose: To evaluate if the blood cortisol levels are different before and after periodontal treatment in subjects with generalized chronic or aggressive periodontitis. Methods: Sample of this quasi-experimental study consisted of 3 groups: Control (n=19, mean age: 36.4±5.1 yrs), Test 1 (n=9, mean age: 42.3±3.0 yrs) with chronic periodontitis, and Test 2 (n=9, mean age: 32±6.7 yrs) with aggressive periodontitis. Subjects from Test groups were evaluated before and after periodontal treatment. The collected variables were the clinical parameters probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), and cortisol blood level measured by electrochemioluminessence. Data were analyzed by Student t tests for independent and for paired samples (α=0.05). Results: For PD and CAL there was no significant difference between control and Test 1 or Test 2 groups after periodontal treatment (P<0.05). For blood cortisol levels, Test 1 group before treatment did not show significant difference with control group, but the cortisol level increased after treatment (P<0.05). Test 2 group did not show differences in cortisol levels before and after periodontal treatment. Conclusion: It was not possible to associate blood cortisol levels with periodontal disease or treatment in this sample.