An autoimmune response in chronic periodontitis was suggested three decades ago by Brandtzaeg and Kraus (1965) but not proven. Since that time many investigators have raised the possibility of autoimmunity in periodontal disease. Serum antibodies reactive with self-antigens have been reported in periodontitis patients; for instance, anti-desmosomal antibodies, and anti-collagen type I antibodies. This book provides original work from the author's findings that have been validated in scientific publications. The research methods have been particularly useful to research workers. The emphasis...