A SKIN WINDOW STUDY OF NEUTROPHIL MIGRATION IN SUBJECTS WITH LOCALIZED JUVENILE PERIODONTITIS

This study investigated the effect of a chemoattractant, N-formyl-meth ionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), upon skin window migration of neutr ophils into filters in 5 patients with a history of localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) and 8 controls. On 2 occasions, each subject had 2 superficial skin abrasions made on the inner aspect of the forearm. Initial periodontal treatment was carried out on the disease group bet ween the visits. On one skin window filters were placed that were soak ed in physiological saline, and on the other filters soaked with FMLP. Leading fronts and cell densities were measured in each filter. At vi sit 1, LJP subjects had significantly lower leading fronts and cell de nsities. At visit 2, the differences were insignificant. The leading f ronts for the LJP group were significantly improved on the second visi t. No difference was observed between saline and FMLP. The findings of this study indicate that neutrophil migration is reduced in LJP patie nts where treatment is not involved, and that FMLP has no effect on ne utrophil migration from the skin windows under the conditions of this study.