A systematic review of methods used to sample and analyse periradicular tissue fluid during root canal treatment

Abstract

Aim

The primary aim was to identify techniques used to sample and analyse Periradicular Tissue Fluid (PTF) in permanent teeth diagnosed with apical disease during root canal treatment. Secondly, to identify the types of inflammatory mediators studied using this approach.

Methodology

Data Sources

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Web of Science and OpenGrey.

Eligibility Criteria

Clinical studies published until 1^st June 2018 which utilised orthograde techniques to sample and analyse PTF were included. Cell culture, laboratory or animal studies and those concerned with investigating inflammatory mediator activity from within healthy or diseased pulp tissue, and not periradicular tissues, were excluded.

Study Apprasial & Methods

In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, data was extracted on study characteristics, target mediators, sampling and assay techniques and the parameters associated with the PTF sampling and eluting protocol. A qualitative synthesis was conducted and studies were critically appraised using a modified version of the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

Study Charactersitcs

From 251 studies, 33 were eligible for inclusion. Sampling techniques included the use of paper points (n=27), fine needle aspiration (n=4) and filter strips (n=2). Assay techniques included Enzyme‐linked‐immunosorbant‐assay (n=18), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n=9), radioimmunoassay (n=4), colorimetric‐assay (n=2), immunofluorometric‐assay (n=1) and cytometric‐bead‐array (n=1). Forty‐five different inflammatory mediators were targeted at the proteomic/metabolomic (n=25) or transcriptomic level (n=9).

Limitations

Significant heterogeneity exists within the methodology and only 5 studies disclosed unambiguous information about their PTF sampling and eluting protocols.

Conclusions

Paper points and proteomic/metabolomic analysis are currently the preferred methods for studying and analysing PTF during NSRCT. The most studied analytes were IL‐1β and TNF‐α.

Implications

Further research is required to develop an optimised PTF sampling and eluting protocol to overcome methodological heterogeneity and future studies are advised to follow a standardised approach to reporting data.

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