Gingival fluid levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase

Abstract

Microtiter assays for acid and alkaline phosphatase levels in gingival fluid (GF) have been evaluated for their use as possible indicators of periodontal disease activity. Alkaline phosphatase concentration was shown to be positively associated with periodontal disease activity, while acid phosphatase showed no relation to disease activity. When a series of timed gingival fluid samples was taken from several sites in one subject's mouth, reproducible differences in volume, alkaline phosphatase concentration, and total acid phosphatase were found between the first and subsequent samples. Acid and alkaline phosphatase are presented as models of how substances can enter the periodontal pocket by different routes.