Ratio of alpha-l-antitrypsin to transferrin in gingival fluid and in blood from patients with periodontal disease

Abstract – In 30 men and 29 women the mean gingival exudate ratio alpha-l-antitrypsin (A,AT)/transferrin (Tr) was higher than the mean blood ratio for A,AT/Tr, when determined by double electroimmunoassay. It suggests that A,AT penetrates the tissues more easily than transferrin probably due to its smaller molecular size or that migration into the extracellular space occurs due to consumption by proteolytic enzymes. The gingival exudate ratio and the blood ratio for AtAT/Tr were not related to periodontal disease when considered separately. However, the difference between the exudate ratio and the corresponding blood ratio was significantly less ( P = 0.02) for individuals with periodontal disease. This suggests that the ratio difference is of importance in the destruction of tooth-supporting collagen fibers.