Clinical Characterization and MMP levels in Children with Aggressive Periodontitis

Objective: The objective of this study was to clinically characterize a population of African-American children diagnosed with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) in north Florida and evaluate levels of different metalloproteinases (MMPs) present in health and disease. Methods: A total of 40 children (26 AgP, 9 healthy siblings and 10 healthy controls), 7 to 19 years old were included. Clinical diagnosis was performed by full-mouth periodontal probing and radiographic analysis. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were taken from 2 diseased and 1 healthy sites from the AgP children, and from 2 sites from healthy children. GCF volume was determined with a calibrated gingival fluid meter. The samples were assayed for MMP-1,-2,-3,-8,-9,-12, and -13 using fluorimetric substrates. Results: Disease was found to be localized (~14% sites involved) in 25 of the 26 children examined, mostly on permanent first molars (n=23 kids). Bone loss was characterized mostly by interproximal simetrical (n=19) vertical/arc shaped defects (n=15). MMP levels for AgP diseased sites were elevated relative to the other groups and, with the exception of MMP-1, were significantly higher than healthy controls (p<0.05). Significant differences were detected in the levels of MMP-8 and 12 between the AgP sites and each of the other groups (p<0.006). Conclusions: A very similar pattern of aggressive periodontal disease was found in a population of African-American children in north Florida. MMPs were significantly elevated in AgP sites relative to non-diseased sites in the same subjects, siblings, and unrelated controls.

This research was supported by a UF college of Dentistry Seed Money grant.