The effects of periodontal therapy on serum antibody (IgG) levels to plaque microorganisms*

Abstract

The influence of periodontal therapy on serum antibody titers to selected periodontal disease-associated microorganisms was assessed in 23 patients having chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD). The immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were determined by the microELISA technique in serum samples obtained prior to treatment; following a hygienic phase which included scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene instruction; following surgical treatment; and one year and two years following hygienic phase (maintenance phase). Considerable individual variability existed in the magnitude of immune response to specific bacterial preparations. Significant reductions in the mean antibody titers were seen to A. viscosus, S. sanguis, F. nucleatum, S. sputigena, B. gingivalis, B. intermedius, B. melaninogenicus, T. vincentii, and T. denticola by the end of the second year of maintenance. There was no consistent response to Capnocytophaga. When individual patient responses were examined, 6 of the 23 were found to have elevated titers to at least one of the microorganisms in the interval between pretreatment and the end of the hygienic phase; however, in all but one case, the titers at the end of the second year of maintenance were below pretreatment levels. Antibody levels to bacteria such as S. sanguis were modified during therapy. This would indicate that immune responses to microbes not generally considered to be "periodontal pathogens" may be modified by adjuvant activity associated with subgingival plaque or changes in the environment of the sulcus and that subsequent changes in titer do not necessarily reflect a role of that microorganism in the disease process.

Impact of smoking on the clinical, microbiological and immunological parameters of adult patients with periodontitis

“…The current study showed a significant reduction in the median antibody titres to some of the test organisms and a concomitant decrease in the mean clinical parameters and the detection of the homologous organisms at 6 months. These results agree with data reported by other investigators (Tolo et al 1982, Naito et al 1985, Mouton et al 1987, Aukhil et al 1988, Murray et al 1989, Horibe et al 1995). However, the wide variation in the subjects' antibody response to treatment made the interpretation of results difficult.…”

Quadrant root planing versus same‐day full‐mouth root planing

“…These post‐treatment reductions paralleled decreases in the detection frequency of the homologous species in subgingival plaque (Apatzidou et al 2003). The current results agree with the data reported by other investigators (Tolo et al 1982, Naito et al 1985, Mouton et al 1987, Aukhil et al 1988, Murray et al 1989, Horibe et al 1995). However, a significant variation exists between studies with respect to the duration of the treatment and the sampling intervals.…”

“…Most of the studies mentioned showed reductions in the antibody titres over a period of 12 months, but it has to be taken into account that the active phase of treatment in these studies lasted notably longer than in the present study. However, other studies have demonstrated decreases in serum antibody levels in the immediate post‐treatment period (Aukhil et al 1988, Horibe et al 1995).…”

Caries and Periodontitis: Contesting the Conventional Wisdom on Their Aetiology

“…Numerous attempts have been made to correlate the levels of salivary IgA or serum IgG and IgM antibodies reactive with S. mutans or its antigens with caries prevalence (caries lesions) in cross-sectional studies but have failed probably because such correlations may not exist [Aukhil et al, 1988;Pussinen et al, 2011]. Similarly, in periodontitis no clear correlation has been shown between the antibody response and periodontitis [Aukhil et al, 1988;Pussinen et al, 2011]. Chronic infections and commensals give rise to antibodies with low avidity [Cole and Lydyard, 2006] with little protective function.…”