Azithromycin as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planning Causes an Increase of CD68+, CD163+ Macrophages Density in the Gingival Tissues of Periodontitis Patients: a Randomized Controlled Short-term Clinical Trial

Detailed Summary

The growing interest in the possibilities of modulating macrophages in inflammatory diseases with therapeutic purpose has prompted the development of new approaches for the treatment of periodontitis. This randomized add-on open clinical study evaluated the short-term effects of azithromycin (Az) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis. The investigators measured periodontal parameters, and collected gingival biopsies from patients with periodontitis (P group, n=50) before and 1 month after scaling and root planning (SRP group, n=25), after scaling and root planning with oral azithromycin administration (Az group, n=25), and from periodontally healthy individuals (H group, n=25). The last served as a reference group. Macrophage subpopulations were identified through immunohistochemistry as single positive CD68+ and CD163+ cells. The levels of M1-, and M2-related cytokines (IL1-β, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β) assay in the tissue culture medium was provided by ELISA. The data were statistically analyzed by appropriate methods. The null hypothesis tested was that L-arginine and L-ornithine have no influences on CD68+ and CD163+ Mφs densities.

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