[Genetic and microbiologic tests in periodontal disease]

The presence of genetic polymorphisms IL-1A and IL-1B was demonstrated to be associated to an increased clinical severity of Periodontitis. The aim of our study was to verify the existence of a relationship between such genetic polymorphisms and pathogenic variations of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Prevotella intermedia (Pi) and Porphyromonans gingivalis (Pg), in patients with periodontitis before and after active therapy.

Twenty-five patients were randomly selected among those attending the Department of Periodontology, University of Bologna, on the basis of radiographic and clinical data. At the end of active therapy, subjects had to undergo "PST" test.

The "PST" was positive in 32% (8 out of 25) of patients; the majority of them (4 out of 8) were classified ADA IV, 3 were ADA III and 1 was ADA I (p > 0.05). All subjects with good hygiene therapy (13 out of 24 patients) have shown a reduced bacterial count after active clinical therapy (Fisher test p = 0.03).

No statistically significant association was observed between positivity to "PST" and severity of periodontal disease.