Antibody to collagen type I in periodontal disease

Serum antibody levels to human collagen Type I were measured in 97 patients with periodontal disease (Russell Periodontal Index 1.0-7.0) and 57 control subjects (Periodontal Index less than 1.0) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which had been standardized with antisera prepared against human collagen Type I in rabbits. Absorption studies were used to confirm the specificity of antibodies to human Type I collagen. Levels of antibody to Type I collagen detected in patients were higher (P less than 0.001) than in the control subjects.