Background: Growth factors play a major part in wound healing in many tissues
including the periodontium. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is one of these
factors present in the gingival crevicular fluid. In addition, it is considered as one of the
most important anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-1β is a proinflammatory
cytokine that presents itself in gingival inflammation and the GCF. Such factors might
be of value as prognostic markers of wound healing activity and the therapeutic
progress following flap surgery. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the
effect of surgical flap on the concentration of IL-1β and TGF-β in the GCF of patients
with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis. Methods: The GCF samples were
collected, using the Perio-Paper strip at phase 1 (pre-surgery), phase 2 (4th week post
surgery) and phase 3 (12th week post surgery) from 20 sites of 10 patients undergoing
flap surgery. After the elution, IL-1β and TGF-β concentrations were measured by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean TGF-β and IL-1β
concentration decreased from phase 1 to phase 3 (p<0.05). There were no significant
statistical correlations between IL-1β and TGF-β1 concentrations in the 3 assessment
phases. There was a significant statistical correlation between TGF-β1 concentrations
and the Plaque Index (PI) in phase 2 (p<0.05). There was a significant statistical
correlation (p<0.05) between IL-1β and TGF-β1 concentration and the probing pocket
depth (PPD). Conclusion: The flap surgery has a significant effect on decreasing IL-1β
concentration. In the case of TGF-β1, probably the decrease in the concentration after
treatment might be due to the removal of the inflammatory stimulants
