Periodontal changes in liver cirrhosis and post-transplantation patients. II: radiographic findings:.
BACKGROUND
Liver disease and transplantation affect bone turnover. The role of cylosporin A (CsA) in aggravating bone loss is controversial. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of liver cirrhosis, transplantation, and immunosuppressive therapy with either CsA or tacrolimus on alveolar bone height.


METHODS
The experimental group consisted of 13 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients. A second experimental group included 24 post-liver transplantation patients (PT) receiving CsA or tacrolimus. Seventeen healthy subjects formed a control group. Panoramic x-rays were taken and digitized using a computer-based measurement software to assess alveolar bone height of all available teeth.


RESULTS
Bone loss in the PT group (4.57+/-0.56 mm) was significantly higher than the control (C) (2.73+/-0.38 mm); however, it was significantly lower (P = 0.0005) than the LC (6.47+/-0.75 mm). Likewise, alveolar bone loss showed a trend for negative correlation (R = 0.404, P = 0.06) with the duration of immunosuppressive therapy post-liver transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Liver cirrhosis patients demonstrated greater bone loss compared to healthy controls. Restoration of liver functions following transplantation seems to have the potential to reverse some of these radiographic changes. Further longitudinal studies will be necessary to substantiate these findings.
Oettinger-Barak
Orit
O
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. barakori@zahav.net.il
Machtei
Eli E
EE
Barak
Shlomi
S
Baruch
Yaacov
Y
Ardekian
Leon
L
Peled
Micha
M
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus