Assessment of neutrophil function in localized pre-pubertal periodontitis

ABSTRACT

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes [PMNS] from L-PP patients revealed variousdegrees of functional defects. This study was undertaken to investigatechemotaxis, phagocytosis and intracellular killing Poer of PMSs in L-PP agematched controls and adult controls. Peripheral blood PMNs from a total of 6patients with L-PP, 6 age matched pediatric controls, and 5 adult controlswere analyzed for neutrophil function. The results showed that chemotaxis ofPMNs from both L-PP patients and pediatric controls was nearly at the samelevel, but significantly depressed compared to adult controls. There was nosignificant difference between chemotaxis of PMNs from L-PP patients and thatfrom age matched controls. On the other hand, both phagocytosis andintracellular killing power of PMNs from patient with L-PP were matchedcontrols or adult controls. It seems from the results of this study thatneutrophil function in L-PP patients is defective as regard to phagocytosis,intracellular killing but not for chemotaxis