Local minocycline effect on inflammation and clinical attachment during periodontal maintenance: Randomized clinical trial

Background: Minocycline microspheres (MMs) are being used to treat residual inflamed periodontal pockets during periodontal maintenance therapy (PMT), but evidence for efficacy from randomized clinical trials is lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of MMs plus scaling and root planing (SRP) on these sites.Methods: Sixty patients with chronic periodontitis on 6-month PMT intervals to be followed for 1 year were randomized (51 completed the study) into two statistically similar groups, SRP + MM (aged 66.8 years) and SRP alone (aged 67 years), to treat a ≥5 mm posterior interproximal pocket during PMT with a history of bleeding on probing (BOP). Group treatments were applied to the site at baseline and 6 months. Clinical attachment levels (CALs; primary outcome), probing depths (PDs), plaque, and BOP also were recorded at baseline and 6 and 12 months. In addition, gingival crevicular fluid was analyzed for an inflammation index ratio of interleukin (IL)-1β/IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra...