INFLUENCE OF ANTI-ACTINOBACILLUS ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS Y4 (SEROTYPE-B) LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ON SEVERITY OF GENERALIZED EARLY-ONSET PERIODONTITIS

The objective of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between antibody reactive with the Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitan s serotype b lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and severity of peridontal disea se in generalized early-onset periodontitis (G-EOP). The concentration of antibody reactive with A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b LPS was determined for 102 G-EOP subjects. Analysis of the relationship betwe en antibody reactive with A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b LPS and measures of periodontal attachment loss indicated that the patients wi th the highest concentrations of antibody reactive with A. actinomycet emcomitans serotype b LPS had significantly less attachment loss. Thes e high-responder subjects also had anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans serot ype b LPS with significantly higher relative avidity. The results sugg est that antibody reactive with A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b LP S is protective in G-EOP patients.