Premium
Flurbiprofen in the prevention and treatment of experimental gingivitis
Author(s) -
Heasman P. A.,
Offenbacher S.,
Collins J. G.,
Edwards G.,
Seymour R. A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1993.tb00699.x
Subject(s) - flurbiprofen , gingivitis , medicine , placebo , oral hygiene , gastroenterology , anesthesia , dentistry , pathology , alternative medicine
A clinical trial was undertaken to examine the effects of a potent cyclooxygenase inhibitor, flurbiprofen, on both developing and established gingivitis in humans. 21 subjects with healthy gingiva abstained from all oral hygiene procedures for 21 days. 7 subjects were prescribed flurbiprofen, 50 mg b.d. beginning from baseline and a control group (Cl. n = 14) were given placebo. Gingival redness and bleeding on probing were assessed at baseline, 7, 14 and 2J days. Crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were also taken to determine concentrations of PGE 2 , TxD 2 and LTB 4 at baseline and at 21 days. Results show that flurbiprofen significantly inhibited the development of redness and bleeding ( p < 0.001) effects which were associated with a significant inhibition of TxB 2 ( p < 0.05). There were no apparent flurbiprofen effects on GCF‐PGE 2 or GCF‐LTB 4 during this 21‐day gingivitis model. To assess the effects of flurbiprofen on established experimental gingivitis, the model was extended to 28 days. On day 21, the C1 group was subdivided into 2 groups of 7 subjects. One group was prescribed flurbiprofen (50 mg b.d.) for 7 days and controls (C2) continued to take placebo. All subjects continued to abstain from tooth cleaning. Pretreatment (day 21) and post‐treatment (day 28) comparisons showed that flurbiprofen again significantly inhibited bleeding ( p < 0.001), but did not affect redness. Control subjects demonstrated a significant elevation in gingival bleeding on day 28, and this was associated with significant rises in GCF‐PGE 2 ( p < 0.001), GCF‐TxB 2 ( p < 0.01) and GCF‐LTB 4 ( p < 0.05). Flurbiprofen suppressed the increases in these 3 mediators that occurred between 21 and 28 days. It is concluded that flurbiprofen controls gingival inflammation with both preventive and therapeutic properties in the experimental gingivitis model, an action that is associated with an inhibition in the production of both cyclooxygenase metabolites and indirectly affects GCF‐LTB 4 levels.