title: Systemic inflammation markers in patients with aggressive periodontitis: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between periodontitis and systemic health is evident; however, until recently, there was a lack of scientific evidence to define the relationship between aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and systemic conditions. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of peripheral blood cellular and serum protein parameters in patients with AgP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with AgP (n = 150) and healthy controls (n = 94) were recruited. Clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and percentage of severe sites, were examined. Blood cell variables, including leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, as well as serum protein parameters, including total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated neutrophil numbers and serum globulin levels were observed in patients with AgP compared to controls (4.22 +/- 1.81 x 10(9)/l versus 3.20 +/- 0.91 x 10(9)/l and 29.20 +/- 3.75 g/l versus 27.17 +/- 3.32 g/l, respectively; P <0.01). Albumin level and albumin/globulin ratio were lower in the AgP group than in the control group (47.65 +/- 2.45 g/l versus 48.88 +/- 2.13 g/l and 1.66 +/- 0.24 versus 1.83 +/- 0.24, respectively; P <0.01). In the AgP group, neutrophil counts and serum globulin levels were positively correlated with clinical parameters, including mean values for PD, CAL, and percentage of severe sites (P <0.05); the albumin level and albumin/globulin ratio were inversely correlated with the clinical parameters as described above (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with AgP may have elevated peripheral leukocyte numbers and serum globulin levels as well as decreased serum albumin levels and albumin/globulin ratios compared to controls. These changes might be associated with the severity of periodontal destruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Huanxin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhibin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xianghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ruifang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiuyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000276:immunology; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000097:blood*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000097:blood; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010976:Platelet Count; D012703:Serotyping; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins