Clinical immunologic and microbiologic features of active disease sites in juvenile periodontitis

Eight juvenile periodontitis (JP) patients with progressing disease were evaluated for clinical, immunologic, and microbiologic features. Clinically, bleeding on probing, pocket depth, and attachment level were unrelated to progressing disease. Only Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was related to a marked increase in attachment loss when examined on both a site and patient basis. Eikenella corrodens was significantly elevated in progressing sites with A. actinomycetemcomitans as opposed to non-progressing sites harboring A. actinomycetemcomitans. Eikenella corrodens may function synergistically with A. actinomycetemcomitans to enhance disease in JP patients. Darkfield microscopy was of no value in distinguishing disease activity. All patients screened had elevated serum IgG levels to the same serotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans as that isolated from the subgingival flora. Other elevated serum IgG responses were noted to various organisms including F. nucleatum. B. intermedius, B. gracilus, B. gingivalis and E. corrodens.