Amplified crevicular leukocyte activity in aggressive periodontal disease

Exaggerated neutrophil responses are a critical component in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. We investigated whether leukocyte activity in aggressive periodontitis (AP) is increased compared with that in chronic periodontitis (CP) by gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) analysis of myeloperoxidase (MPO), beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase (beta-NAH), cathepsin D (CD), and elastase-alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor complex (alpha-1-EPI) before and 6 months after therapy. Initial AP neutrophil responses were significantly amplified compared with those in CP (MPO, 3.2-fold; beta-NAH, 37.5-fold; CD, 2.2-fold; alpha-1-EPI, 1.4-fold; p < 0.05). Surgical therapy resulted in a significant reduction of GCF markers compared with non-surgical treatment. However, the changes in clinical parameters were not different between AP and CP (P > 0.05). Analysis of the results suggests that the local inflammatory response in AP is characterized by increased release of inflammatory mediators of neutrophil origin into the GCF. Analysis of the data further suggests that surgical therapy is a more predictable method for removal of the pro-inflammatory etiology.