The Relationship between periodontal disease and blood groups and secretor status

The purpose of present study was to determine the relationship between periodontal disease and blood groups with special reference to secretor status. 600 medical students constituted the study group and three sets of control were taken in parallel. First set was of 6000 blood donors for normal distribution of blood groups. Second set consisted of 200 cases selected on random basis from patients attending the Dental Out‐patient Department for blood groups and secretor status. Third set comprised of 100 cases with grade 0 periodontal involvement selected from the study group. The periodontal scoring was done in each case by Ramfjord's technique and the study group cases were divided into four grades ‐ 0, 1, II, and III. Blood grouping was done by slide and tube method and secretor status was tested by haemagglutination method of Weiner as modified by Roy and Chatterji. Statistically significant relationship was found between periodontal disease and blood groups but none with secretor status. This relationship points towards a possible genetic basis for etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease which should be explored further by conducting extensive studies. It is a pleasure to acknowledge Dr. K. K. Kapoor, Reader, Division of Periodontics, Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow, for his valuable guidance and fruitful discussions in the planning and accomplishment of the present work. Our grateful appreciation is also due to Dr. Mrs. V. L. Lahiri, Reader in Pathology. G. S. V. M. Medical College. Kanpur, for her valuable suggestions and constructive criticism during the elaboration of the manuscript.