[The phagocytic activity of the blood neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with marginal periodontitis].

The ingestion of opsonized zymosan particles by neutrophil blood granulocytes and the chemiluminescence in samples of whole blood, induced by zymosan, Streptococcus mutans as well as phorbol myristate acetate, as a measure of the generation of reactive oxygene species were studied in patients with various forms of marginal periodontitis. Compared to a control group the phagocytic activity was found to be enhanced in progressive adult periodontitis and diminished in juvenile periodontitis whereas no differences to controls were found in chronic nonprogressive or postjuvenile periodontitis. With respect to the height of the chemiluminescence signals increased values were only measured in chronic nonprogressive periodontitis after stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate. The results indicate that impairment of blood granulocyte functions may be a pathogenetic factor for the development and the progression of marginal periodontitis.