Concentrations of serum protease inhibitors and immunoglobulins in juvenile periodontitis.

Abstract

Serum alpha‐2‐macroglobulin (α2 M), IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations in relation to the total protein as well as total and differential white blood cell counts were determined in 25 Caucasian patients, 18 females and 7 males, with juvenile periodontitis (JP). Fifteen patients, aged 15–24 years, formed the JP group and ten patients, aged 25–30 years, the post‐JP group. The α2M values were normal: means 2.91 ± 0.85 g/l in the JP group and 2.62 ± 0.56 g/l in the post‐JP group. Eight of the eleven patients in JP group and three out of ten patients in the post‐JP group showed elevated percentage lymphocyte counts, but the absolute numbers of cells were within normal range. The mean level of IgA was 2.66 ± 1.39 g/l in the JP group and 1.96 ± 1.22 g/l in the post‐JP group. The mean level of IgG was 13.08 ± 2.62 g/l in the JP group and 13.32 ± 4.88 g/l in the post‐JP group. The mean IgM was 1.86 ± 0.82 g/l in the JP and 2.30 ± 0.66 g/l in the post‐JP group. There were no statistically significant differences in the serum protein mean values between the JP and post‐JP groups. The differences between the JP or post‐JP group immunoglobulin means compared to normal means were not statistically significant.