A comparison of periodontal disease in HIV-infected children and household peers: a two year report.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence and progression of periodontal disease in HIV-infected children to HIV-negative household peers. This paper reports the findings after two years.


METHODS
Children diagnosed as HIV-infected and their household peers were recruited from the Children's Hospital AIDS Program in Newark NJ. A periodontal examination was performed at baseline and at six-month intervals for two years. A total of 121 subjects were examined two years after baseline (68 HIV-infected and 53 controls). These children ranged in age from 2-15 years at baseline.


RESULTS
Plaque assessment (PHP-M) in HIV-infected cases showed a seven-fold increase over controls for the period. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in changes over the two years for Bleeding on Probing, Gingival Index or Pocket Depths. There was virtually no recession or pathologic mobility in either group. One-fourth of the HIV-infected group exhibited Linear Gingival Erythema at both baseline and year two. Although the number of subjects with LGE did not increase, there was an increase in the severity of LGE at year 2.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that in a medically well-controlled HIV-infected population, with the exception of the prevalence of Linear Gingival Erythema, the periodontal findings are similar to their HIV-negative household peers and to the general pediatric population.
Schoen
D H
DH
Department of General Dentistry & Community Health, UMD-New Jersey Dental School, USA. schoend@umdnj.edu
Murray
P A
PA
Nelson
E
E
Catalanotto
F A
FA
Katz
R V
RV
Fine
D H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D004890:Erythema / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010512:Periodontal Index