Periodontal status and secretory activity of neutrophilic leukocytes among 25-44-year-olds in Kaunas city, Lithuania

Objective. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of periodontal diseases and oral hygiene status among 25-44-year-olds in Kaunas city and to study the secretory function of peripheral venous blood neutrophilic leukocytes (NL) exposed to various antigens in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. Material and Methods. The prevalence of periodontal diseases (according to CPITN), oral hygiene status (according to OHI-S index) was examined in 420 subjects. Secretory function of peripheral venous blood neutrophilic leukocytes (NL) in 112 subjects was determined. Secretory function of NL affected by antigens, such as opsonized zymosane and anatoxine S. aureus was investigated by lysozyme (LZ) activity in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis who were internal diseases free. Lysozyme activity was analyzed by the spectrophotometric method, supplemented with Micrococcus luteus 2665. Results. The prevalence of periodontal diseases was 90.2%. Gingival bleeding and dental calculus were diagnosed in 73.2% and periodontal pockets in 16.6% of subjects. Oral hygiene in 55.7% of participants was satisfactory. NL secreted higher levels of LZ in incubation media of all participants with healthy periodontium and of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. In patients with gingivitis and periodontitis NL affected by antigens secreted higher levels of LZ in incubation media compared with control media. Conclusions. Higher prevalence of periodontal diseases and more periodontal lesions were diagnosed in patients with unsatisfactory oral hygiene. Response of NL to bacterial origin stimuli in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis was found specific and dependent on the periodontal lesion severity level. Once NL are exposed to corpuscules, prone to phagocytosis, an increased secretion of LZ can be explained by overall increase in secretion of NL lysosomic enzymes. That explains the mechanism of inflammatory origin of periodontal tissue damage.