Background: The aim of this study was to compare the activity of neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with severe periodontitis and patients with gingivitis alone.

Methods: The study population comprised 22 patients with gingivitis and 44 with periodontitis. Samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were collected from untreated patients with gingivitis and from shallow and deep pockets in untreated patients with periodontitis. GCF samples were analyzed for lactoferrin, elastase, matrix metalloproteinase-8 and -9, and collagenolytic activity.

Results: The free elastase activity and the neutrophil activity, estimated as the ratio between elastase and lactoferrin, were significantly higher in the samples from the periodontitis patients. These differences were also observed in shallow pockets in periodontitis patients compared to similar pockets in patients with gingivitis.

Conclusion: This study shows higher levels of free elastase in untreated patients with periodontitis, relative to inflammation-matched controls, which may explain the tissue destruction seen in periodontitis. J Periodontol 2005;76:951-955.