Treatment of rapidly destructive periodontitis in Papillon‐Lefèvre syndrome

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Abstract
This paper reports the successful treatment of the pcriodontal component of the Papillon‐Lefèvre syndrome in 2 siblings. Treatment consisted of extractions of periodontally‐involved teeth under antibiotic therapy. The exogenous source of the suspected pathogenic A. actinomycetemcomitans in this family, identified as a pet dog, was also treated with antibiotics. Assessments of monocyte function and levels of serum antibodies against A. actinomycetemcomitans were performed prior to an immediately after treatment. Microbiological screening of subgingival dental plaque of the PLS patients as well as the rest of the household members, including the dog, was performed every month during the study period. Remission of the rapidly destructive periodontitis, as well as an earlier‐described monocyte dysfunction in these two PLS patients occurred concommitantly with the eradication of A. actinomycetemcomitans from the family. 15 months after this treatment, the children still had no signs of periodontitis or of A. actinomycetemcomitans infection. The legitimacy with which PLS is defined as a disease entity is discussed and questioned.