Background/Aim. Peri-implantitis presents inflammatory process that affects
soft and hard supporting tissues of osseointegrated implant based on
inflammatory osteoclastogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate
whether receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) concentrations
in peri-implant crevicular fluid could be associated with clinical
parameters that reflect inflammatory nature of peri-implantitis. Methods.
The study included 67 patients, 22 with diagnosed peri-implantitis, 22
persons with healthy peri-implant tissues and 23 patients with
periodontitis. Clinical parameters from each patient were recorded and
samples of peri-implant/gingival crevicular fluid were collected for the
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Results. RANK
concentration was significantly increased in samples from the patients with
periimplantitis when compared to healthy implants (p < 0.0001), where the
average levels were 9 times higher. At the same time RANK concentration was
significantly higher in periimplantitis than in periodontitis sites (p <
0.0001). In implant patients pocket depths and bleeding on probing values
were positively associated with high RANK concentrations (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion. These results revealed association of increased RANK
concentration in samples of periimplant/ gingival crevicular fluid with
peri-implant inflammation and suggests that RANK could be a pathologic
determinant of peri-implantitis, thereby a potential parameter in assessment
of peri-implant tissue inflammation and a potential target in designing
treatment strategies.