title: The influence of chlorhexidine on the severity of cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth.
abstract: The influence of chemical plaque control, using topically applied 0.12% chlorhexidine, on the severity of cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth (GO) was evaluated. Forty Holtzman rats were divided into four groups: 1) control; 2) cyclosporin A: a 10 mg/kg/day subcutaneous dose of CsA; 3) chlorhexidine: 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) was applied to the buccal surface of the right mandibular molars; and 4) cyclosporin A/chlorhexidine: a combination of the treatment described for cyclosporin A and chlorhexidine groups. The animals were fed a high sucrose diet during the experiment and were sacrificed after 14 and 21 days. The histometric analysis revealed a significant increase in buccal gingival area in the cyclosporin A group compared to other groups (P < 0.01) after 21 days. The epithelium thickness of the buccal gingiva was significantly increased in the cyclosporin A group, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The cyclosporin A/chlorhexidine group exhibited statistically significantly lower gingival overgrowth than the cyclosporin A group. These findings, if replicated in human studies, suggest that topically applied 0.12% chlorhexidine may be a valuable measure in the management of cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Diagnóstico e Cirurgia, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pilatti
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D009067:Mouthwashes; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002710:Chlorhexidine