A METHOD OF PLASMA PHOSPHATASE DETERMINATION FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF ALVEOLAR CREST BONE TYPES IN PERIODONTAL DISEASE
RUDOLPH H. PELZER B.S., D.D.S., A.M.1
1 New York University College of Dentistry, New York City, N. Y.
1.—A micro-method for determination of plasma phosphatase value, adapted to use for gingival blood samples, is presented. 2.—Cases of radiographically indicated `normal' and `arrested' alveolar bone give a mean plasma phosphatase value of 11.9 units from the finger blood plasma, and 12.6 units from the blood plasma of the region
of the alveolar crest. 3.—Cases of radiographically indicated `slow' alveolar crest bone destruction give a mean plasma phosphatase value of 7.6 units from the finger blood plasma, and 14.2 units from the blood plasma of the region of the alveolar crest. 4.—Cases of radiographically indicated `rapid' alveolar crest bone dissolution give a mean plasma phosphatase value of 7.8 units from the finger blood plasma, and 20.0 units from the blood plasma of the region of the alveolar crest. 5.—The phosphatase differences of each of the 3 divisions of alveolar bone types was 0.6 units for the `normal' and `arrested' alveolar bone group, 6.6 units for the `slow' alveolar crest destruction, and 12.1 units for the `rapid' alveolar crest destruction. 6.—Six cases are presented in which no increased plasma phosphatase value was found in the region of alveolar bone crest destruction.
