Serum antibodies to periodontal pathogens are important components of the immune defense system. However, their correlation to aggressive periodontitis and periodontal therapy is still not clear. Objective: The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the changes of serum immunoglobulins and IgG antibody levels to Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g.) and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. a.) during treatment of aggressive periodontitis patients. Methods: 27 patients with previously untreated, active aggressive periodontitis were included. Each patient underwent several visits of oral hygiene instructions, full-mouth professional tooth cleaning and subgingival scaling and root planing (SRP) under local anesthesia. Three months later, patients were randomly assigned to antibiotic treatment by doxycycline or amoxycyline and metronidazole. Patients were reevaluated at 3 and 6 months following antibiotic treatment. Eight serum samples were collected from each patient throughout the treatment phases. Serum IgG antibody levels to P. g. ATCC 33277 and A. a. DSM 11123 were determined by ELISA. Serum IgG, IgA and IgM were determined by turbidimetrie. Non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analyses. Results: Compared to baseline, all patients showed significant improvements in the clinical parameters after SRP and antibiotic treatment to the completion of the study. Significant decreases of IgG antibodies to P. g. were found for all times after SRP until the end of the study period (p<0.01). Serum antibodies reactive to A. a. as well as total IgG, IgA and IgM were not statistically different to baseline at any timepoint. Conclusion: Serum IgG antibody levels to P. g. were reduced by SRP during treatment of aggressive periodontitis patients and thus, might be used to monitor periodontal therapy.

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Back to the 81st General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (June 25-28, 2003)

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