title: The relationship between Porphyromonas gingivalis infection and local and systemic factors in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a major pathogen related to periodontitis. There are few reports on the prevalence and effect of P. gingivalis in children. The purpose of the present study was to describe in children the level of DNA-P gingivalis in subgingival plaque and the IgG serum reactivity to P. gingivalis (IgG-Pg), and examine their relationship to demographic, systemic, and oral variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children, aged 1.83 to 13.42 years, were included in the study; 16 with no systemic disease and 18 with systemic conditions. The demographic data for caries incidence, plaque and gingival indices, probing depth, and alveolar bone height were recorded. The IgG-Pg and DNA-Pg levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and DNA-DNA hybridization, respectively. The relationships between the IgG-Pg and DNA-Pg values to the demographics, oral parameters, and systemic conditions were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IgG-Pg was evident in 53% of the children and DNA-Pg in 47%. IgG-Pg values significantly correlated positively with age, plaque index, and bone height. DNA-Pg values had statistically significant positive correlations with age. IgG-Pg and DNA-Pg values correlated with probing depth among children with systemic diseases. Neither the IgG-Pg nor the DNA-Pg values had a significant correlation to systemic conditions. Multiple regression analyses indicated that only age remained significantly related to IgG-Pg and DNA-Pg values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P. gingivalis can be found in significant levels in the plaque of young children and elicits an immune reaction that increases with age and may be related to incipient signs of periodontal disease. Plaque DNA-Pg and serum IgG-Pg levels correlate significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0426, USA. ebimstein@dental.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bimstein
authors.forename: Shabetai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapir
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Houri-Haddad
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dibart
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Van Dyke
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shapira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000382:microbiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G