Major challenges in periodontology include understanding the pathophysiology, the interplay between various components of the host response, parallels with other diseases and identifying biomarkers of the disease.
Four reviews were compiled with the aim of better understanding: (1) the role of polymorphic nuclear leucocytes (PMNs), i.e. neutrophils; (2) the function of cytokine networks in the host response; (3) whether parallels exist with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); and (4) whether useful biomarkers currently exist to help in the management of periodontal disease.
Based on the focused questions, electronic and manual searches were conducted for human, animal and cellular studies on the above topics.
Papers fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected and reviews were written and reviewed and corrected before the academy meeting to produce consensus statements.
The following consensus statements were produced. PMNs are important in the pathophysiology of periodontal disease but there is limited evidence on their much quoted destructive potential. Cytokine networks are enormously complex and we are really at the beginning of understanding their role in the disease process. RA has both similarities and marked differences to periodontal disease although the existing utilization of anti-cytokine therapies and other molecules in its treatment may have importance in periodontal disease therapy. Biomarkers for periodontal disease have yet to be completely defined but the ratio of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand to osteoprotegerin appears to be a biomarker test with utility for detecting bone destruction.