Immunological studies of young adults with severe periodontitis. I. Medical evaluation and humoral factors

The objective of this study was to determine whether young adults (19–30 yrs.) with severe, generalized periodontal destruction differed from an age matched population with a healthy periodontium when compared by a thorough medical evaluation and/or an evaluation of humoral immunoglobulins and complement levels. The medical laboratory testing included BP, EKG, chest film, VDRL, urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry, GTT, and a physical examination. The evaluations of immunoglobulins and complement included levels of serum and salivary IgG, IgA, IgM and 8 proteins of the classical and alternative complement pathway and levels of serum antibody to a panel of bacteria. The two groups were very similar in results of medical evaluations, antibody, complement, properdin, and immunoglobulin levels in most comparisons. The periodontally diseased group did have higher IgG levels and a tendency for higher IgA in saliva, probably due to gingival fluid contributing to saliva, including production of IgG locally in the gingiva. There was also a tendency for higher IgG in serum of the diseased group, resulting from more individuals in that group having elevated levels than in the healthy group. The mean levels of both