Effects of treatment on antibody titer to Porphyromonas gingivalis in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis

Twenty-eight patients diagnosed as having rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) were enrolled in a study in which samples of subgingival microflora were harvested from test teeth and assayed for the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, and GCF collected and analyzed by ELISA for specific antibody for P. gingivalis. Clinical conditions were measured and recorded, and treatment by scaling and root planing provided at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Reduction in pocket depth, stabilization of attachment level, and resolution of inflammation were comparable to previously reported values. By 3 months, mean and median specific antibody concentration had decreased, and continued to decrease through 12 months. The proportion of samples in which specific antibody was not detectable increased from 27% at baseline to 73% at month 12. GCF samples from sites at which P. gingivalis was present had greater than 2-fold higher median specific antibody than samples from P. gingivalis-negative sites. At baseline, specific antibody titer of 30-second GCF samples positively correlated with pocket depth, and GCF volume significantly correlated with antibody titer and concentration, and with pocket depth. In addition, change in specific antibody titer of 30-second samples from baseline to both 6 and 12 months correlated positively with pocket depths. Thus sites infected by P. gingivalis manifested high levels of specific antibody, and levels were related to clinical status. Following treatment, antibody levels decreased significantly as pocket depths decreased, attachment levels stabilized, and inflammation resolved.