[Genetic background of periodontitis. Part I. Basic principles and inherited syndromes. Literature review]

Periodontitis is an infectious disease. It had previously been considered as a diseases caused merely by dental plaque. During the 1990-ies a substantial number of publications indicated the role of other risk factors in its pathogenesis, such as behavioral, systemic and genetic causes. Based on recent research data, genetic and ethnic factors have become the leading susceptibility or severity factors for destructive periodontitis. The family background of early onset aggressive periodontitis has long been known. Hereditary syndromes can very frequently be associated with severe periodontitis. Both facts can support the alleged connection between certain genes' mutation and periodontal manifestation. Periodontal disease associated with systemic hereditary syndromes mainly shows a Mendelian inheritance. The locus and the characteristics of the gene mutations have in many cases been identified. Nevertheless several polygenic gene single nucleotide mutations can also be a predisposing or severity factor for periodontitis. Part I of the literature review is focusing on those syndromes in which major PMN leukocyte deficiency or dysfunction or certain structural protein deficiency occur.