Serum and Salivary IgG and IgA Response to Initial Preparation Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine and compare IgG and IgA concentration in both serum and unstimulated whole saliva obtained prior to any therapy and following initial preparation therapy (IPT) in 15 healthy adult dentulous patients, five each of periodontal disease Classes I, II and III. During the first visit before therapy, 10 ml of whole blood and 5 ml of saliva were obtained. Serum protein electrophoresis was conducted to rule out immunoglobulinopathies. Radial cell immunodiffusion endpoint technique was employed on serum and saliva to determine IgG and IgA in mg/dl. Following IPT, achievement of plaque control and 3 weeks after any dental instrumentation, 10 ml of blood and 5 ml of saliva were obtained from each patient and IgG and IgA in mg/dl were determined. The following are trends that were observed: greater decrease in IgG and IgA in serum and saliva following IPT in Class I periodontal patients than in other classes; saliva was a better indicator of local humoral response than serum for this group of patients; the less severe the periodontal involvement, more consistent was the reduction in IgG and IgA following IPT, especially for saliva; IPT elicited a decreased IgG and IgA concentration when local antigenic stimuli were reduced by both patient and dentist.

Saliva as a diagnostic tool for periodontal disease: current state and future directions

“…Patients with periodontal disease are shown to have higher salivary concentrations of IgA, IgG and IgM specific to periodontal pathogens compared with healthy patients (68). Additionally, the levels of these immunoglobulins in saliva are greatly reduced after periodontal treatment (63). As a consequence, the screening of saliva, especially for IgA, has been previously discussed as a useful, noninvasive technique to identify individuals who have the potential to develop periodontal disease or those who are currently responding to a periodontopathogenic infection (51).…”

Analysis of saliva for periodontal diagnosis

“…Changes in the concentration of immunoglobulins in saliva following treatment were examined by Reiff (1984). The salivary (and serum) levels of IgG and IgA were determined in healthy adult patients, and patients with periodontal disease before and following initial periodontal therapy.…”

Analysis of host responses and risk for disease progression

“…In contrast, Bokor et al (29) reported that IgA levels in mixed unstimulated saliva were lower in subjects with more pronounced gingival inflammation. Reiff et al (227) examined serum and salivary concentrations of IgG and IgA in periodontitis patients before and after initial therapy, and found a reduction in both IgG and IgA after treatment. Basu et al (21) evaluated IgG and IgA in whole saliva from 12 periodontitis patients and found increased amounts of IgG and decreased IgA concentrations before therapy, compared to post‐treatment levels.…”