title: Assessment of Systemic Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Aggressive Periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  "Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is a destructive disease characterized by the following: The involvement of multiple teeth with a distinctive pattern of periodontal tissue loss; a high rate of disease progression; an early age of onset; and the absence of systemic diseases.'' Chronic low-level bacteremia and systemic inflammatory response have been suggested as a pathogenic link between periodontal disease and systemic disease. The present study was aimed to assess the levels of systemic inflammatory markers in patients with AgP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 50 systemically healthy patients comprised two groups, based on full mouth periodontal examination: Group I healthy individuals, includes 25 periodontally healthy subjects with fully functioning dentition. Group II includes 25 patients diagnosed clinically as AgP. Laboratory blood investigation included white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and platelet count. Serum protein parameters included total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and globulin (GLB). Periodontal clinical parameters including plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis shows an increase in WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet count and a decrease in TP, ALB, and GLB in AgP patients when compared to healthy individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the present study shows an increase in blood parameters and decrease in serum protein parameters in AgP. Hence, AgP could be considered as one of the risk factors associated with the cardiovascular diseases as assessed by changes in the level of systemic inflammatory markers observed.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, Malabar Dental College, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P Safar
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, Sri Sankara Dental College, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S Nubesh
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Malabar Dental College, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haris
authors.affiliation: Professor and HOD, Department of Periodontics, Malabar Dental College, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Malabar Dental College, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laju
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontics, Rajah Muthiah Dental College & Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Swaminathan Senthil
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Aggressive periodontitis; bacteremia; inflammation; systemic circulation