IMPAIRED NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTAXIS IN PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE AND RAPIDLY PROGRESSING PERIODONTITIS

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic studies were performed in young patients with juvenile periodontitis/periodontosis and adult patients with aggressive periodontitis. In the juvenile periodontitis/periodontosis group, 86% showed modest leukotactic defects, the majority of which were due to intrinsic abnormality of cells. In the older patients with rapidly progressing periodontitis 48% had detectable leukotactic defects; the majority of which were serum associated. The results indicate that some forms of periodontitis are associated with impaired polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis and suggest that a failure of a major host protective mechanism to dental plaque may increase susceptibility to periodontal disease. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved