title: Role of salivary leukocyte protease inhibitor in periodontal disease progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proteases play a major role in the tissue destruction involved in periodontal disease. It is known that the balance between proteases and their inhibitors is a major determinant in maintaining tissue integrity. The association between the proteases and periodontitis is well established, but not many studies have been carried out to know the role played by a protease inhibitor like salivary leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in periodontitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to correlate SLPI with periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five clinically confirmed cases of periodontitis and 20 controls were included in the study. A detailed case history and periodontal index (PI) were recorded. Two milliliters of unstimulated saliva samples was obtained and subjected to quantification of SLPI leaves using SLPI in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Based on the periodontal index score of the individuals, the cases and controls were divided into groups A, B and C, and the obtained SLPI levels were compared among the groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mann-Whitney U test and correlation coefficient test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that in the initial stages of periodontitis there is a tendency of SLPI levels to be raised. The SLPI levels were found to be reduced in the terminal stages of periodontitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that SLPI accumulates in the local environment, at least in the initial stages of the periodontal disease, probably to inhibit the action of increased elastic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, K. M. Shah Dental College and Hospital, Sumandeep Vidhyapeeth University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pateel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seema
authors.forename: Akla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kale