Patent ID: 6406873
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of diagnosing periodontitis in a patient suspected of having periodontitis comprising the steps of:a) obtaining a plurality of individual gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples from the patient, wherein the samples are obtained from at least two different sites in the patient; b) determining a level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) protein, or levels of each of PAI-2 protein and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) protein, in each of the individual samples; c) calculating a mean level for said PAI-2 protein or mean levels for each of said PAI-2 protein and said t-PA protein in said GCF samples; and d) comparing said mean level or levels with control level or levels, respectively, to detect an increase over control, wherein different degrees of said increase distinguish periodontitis from gingivitis in the patient.