title: The role of platelets in inflammatory immune responses in generalized aggressive periodontitis.
abstract: To investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and platelet size in generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).
  
  
  
  Periodontal, inflammatory and platelet indices were compared between 59 GAgP patients and 59 healthy subjects. Gingival biopsies from five patients and five healthy subjects were examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Changes in patient periodontal and platelet indices were re-evaluated at 3 months after periodontal therapy.
  
  
  
  Platelet size was decreased significantly in GAgP patients compared to healthy subjects (p ≤ 0.003). Weak negative correlations between platelet size and periodontal parameters were found in GAgP patients (p ≤ 0.025). Platelet aggregates and adhesion to the endothelium or leucocytes were found in venules and connective tissues of gingival biopsies from GAgP patients. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet large cell ratio increased after periodontal therapy in GAgP patients (p ≤ 0.038). The increase in MPV was related to the decrease in bleeding index in GAgP patients after periodontal therapy (p < 0.001; r = 0.357).
  
  
  
  Platelet size was reduced in GAgP patients compared to healthy controls, possibly due to the consumption of large platelets at sites of periodontal inflammation. Platelets may be involved in host responses to periodontal infection in GAgP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yalin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ruifang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huanxin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xian'e
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jianxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
keywords: generalized aggressive periodontitis; inflammation; mean platelet volume; platelet large cell ratio