Accuracy of single molecular biomarkers in saliva for the diagnosis of periodontitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 2 - 18
• Main Authors: Arias‐Bujanda, Nora, Regueira‐Iglesias, Alba, Balsa‐Castro, Carlos, Nibali, Luigi, Donos, Nikos, Tomás, Inmaculada
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Diagnosis; diagnostic accuracy; Gelatinase B; Gum disease; Hemoglobin; Humans; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 6; Meta-analysis; molecular biomarkers; Neutrophil collagenase; Periodontitis; predictive values; prevalence; Quality control; Saliva; sensitivity; Sensitivity and Specificity; specificity; Statistical analysis; systematic review; saliva; prevalence; diagnostic accuracy; periodontitis; meta-analysis; specificity; molecular biomarkers; predictive values; sensitivity; systematic review
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13202

Aim To analyse, using a meta‐analytical approach, the diagnostic accuracy of single molecular biomarkers in saliva for the detection of periodontitis in systemically healthy subjects. Materials and Methods Articles on molecular biomarkers in saliva providing a binary contingency table (or sensitivity and specificity values and group sample sizes) in individuals with clinically diagnosed periodontitis were considered eligible. Searches for candidate articles were conducted in six electronic databases. The methodological quality was assessed through the tool Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Studies. Meta‐analyses were performed using the Hierarchical Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic model. Results Meta‐analysis was possible for 5 of the 32 biomarkers studied. The highest values of sensitivity for the diagnosis of periodontitis were obtained for IL1beta (78.7%), followed by MMP8 (72.5%), IL6 and haemoglobin (72.0% for both molecules); the lowest sensitivity value was for MMP9 (70.3%). In terms of specificity estimates, MMP9 had the best result (81.5%), followed by IL1beta (78.0%) and haemoglobin (75.2%); MMP8 had the lowest specificity (70.5%). Conclusions MMP8, MMP9, IL1beta, IL6 and Hb were salivary biomarkers with good capability to detect periodontitis in systemically healthy subjects. MMP8 and IL1beta are the most researched biomarkers in the field, both showing clinically fair effectiveness for the diagnosis of periodontitis.