3-year Clinical Follow-up of Aggressive Periodontitis Patients

The short-term results of mechanical and 2 adjunctive antibiotic therapies in generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP) in this cohort have been reported previously (J Dent Res 2002, Spec Iss A, 151, #1055). Objectives: The aim of this double-blind, randomized study was to evaluate the clinical results of mechanical and adjunctive systemic antibiotic therapy in GAP patients after 33 months. Methods: 33 previously untreated GAP-patients received full-mouth SRP and 3 months later an adjunctive antibiotic therapy with either amoxicillin plus metronidazole (AM, n=17) or doxycycline (D, n=16). Patients were recalled every three months for maintenance therapy. Standardized clinical measurements of bleeding on probing (BoP), suppuration (Sp), probing depths (PD) and attachment levels (AL) were made at baseline (BL) and after 9 and 33 months at mesio-buccal and disto-buccal sites. Non-parametric tests and multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis were used at a=0.05. Results: 28 patients were recalled after 33 months. In group D, mean PD was reduced from 5.2 mm (SD: 0.8 mm) at BL to 3.7 (0.6) mm after 9 months and 3.2 (0.5) mm after 33 months with an overall AL gain of 0.8 (0.7) mm. In group AM, PD was 5.1 (1.0) mm at BL, 3.5 (0.7) mm after 9 months and 3.2 (0.5) mm after 33 months with AL gain of 0.9 (0.4) mm. The PD reduction during maintenance (9 to 33 months) was significant in both groups (p=0.002). No significant differences between groups were observed at any time for any clinical variable. In a MLR model including gender, smoking and treatment group, baseline PD was the only significant predictor of mean AL gain (p=0.001). Conclusion: GAP can be successfully treated and maintained by mechanical and adjunctive antibiotic therapy over a 3 year period. The two antibiotic regimens tested appear to be equally effective over a three year period.