title: Serum anticardiolipin concentrations in patients with chronic periodontitis following scaling and root planing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anticardiolipin antibodies (antiCl), present in some patients with autoimmune disease, are associated with thrombosis, fetal loss, and other conditions. A significant proportion of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) test positive for antiCl, likely because some periodontal pathogens contain antigens homologous to the target antigen of antiCl on the serum protein β-2 glycoprotein-I (β2GPI) and thus can induce antiCl by molecular mimicry. The authors hypothesized that treatment of periodontitis by scaling and root planing (SRP) could therefore decrease serum titers of antiCl in patients with CP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with CP received complete periodontal examinations at baseline including assessment of probing depth, attachment loss, gingival index, and plaque index. SRP was performed in two sessions at 2-week intervals. Eight weeks later, patients were reexamined. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 2 weeks after the initial therapy appointment, and 8 weeks after the completion of treatment for assessment of immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM antiCl levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All periodontal parameters improved significantly. Consistent with previous observations, five (16.7%) of the 30 patients exhibited elevated levels of IgG or IgM antiCl at baseline. Following treatment, the concentrations of IgG and IgM antiCl remained unchanged for the entire cohort of 30 patients. However, in the five patients with elevated antiCl at baseline, IgM antiCl concentrations decreased significantly (P = 0.0008) owing to therapy, while IgG antiCl did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral microflora is a likely source of antigen inducing antiCl in CP, since IgM antiCl levels can be reduced in the short term with conservative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Currently, Private practice, Layton, UT; previously, Department of Periodontics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA.
authors.forename: Reve
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaston
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Koertge
authors.forename: Carol N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Harvey A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schenkein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007155:Immunologic Factors