CHANGES IN THE KALLIKREIN CONTENTS OF SALIVA UNDER PHYSIOLOGICAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN PERIODONTOCLASIA

¹ University Hospital for Stomatology, Budapest, Hungary

1. The kallikrein content of the saliva is about 4 to 5 times greater with old age than younger age.

2. In periodontal disease provoked by constitutional factors (periodontosis), the kallikrein content of the saliva is 5 to 6 times greater than in healthy control patients of the same age. There are no considerable differences in caries and ulcerative gingivitis. The amount of the kallikrein is in direct proportion to the progress of periodontosis.

3. It may be presumed that the increase of kallikrein in periodontal disease is provoked prematurely by the same changes as under physiological circumstances in old age. The increased kallikrein content of saliva may damage the periodontal tissues locally.