A study of antitrypsin and macroglobulin levels in serum and saliva of patients with gingivitis.

Periodontal diseases are associated with chronic inflammation. The destruction of connective tissue matrix is responsible for the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory states. The degradation of matrix is initiated extra and pericellularly by proteinases produced locally at the inflammatory site. The regulation of these proteinases are by inhibitors present in serum and extravascular tissues, and it is the proteinase/proteinase inhibitor balance that determines the progression of chronic inflammatory state. Few contradicting studies are available on changes in the levels of proteinase inhibitors in serum in periodontal disease. The occurrence of these inhibitors in saliva has not been studied in detail. The present study was aimed at measuring the Proteinase inhibitors in serum and saliva of patients with periodontal disease.