The effect of aspirin on the periodontal parameter bleeding on probing.
BACKGROUND
The absence or presence of bleeding on probing (BOP) is a sign of periodontal health or disease, but the presence of BOP is not an accurate predictor of disease progression. Aspirin is increasingly used in the prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and is a non-disease factor that may modify bleeding indices given its antithrombolytic activity. The purpose of this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was to study the effect of short-term daily aspirin ingestion on the clinical parameter BOP.


METHODS
A total of 46 periodontally healthy subjects were included in this study: 16 received placebo, 15 low-dose aspirin (81 mg), and 15 regular dose (325 mg) aspirin. Clinical parameters assessed included plaque index, periodontal probing depth, and BOP using an automated pressure-sensitive probe. Measurements were recorded before and after 7-day exposure to placebo and aspirin regimens.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference in BOP was found in patients with > or = 20% of bleeding sites during the visit prior to placebo or aspirin exposure (n = 11). The group treated with 325 mg aspirin exhibited a moderate yet statistically significant increase in BOP (12.4%) compared to the placebo group (there was no significant difference between the 81 mg aspirin group and placebo). The tendency to bleed was not statistically significant in the group which exhibited <20% (n = 35) of bleeding sites during the visit prior to exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Aspirin intake of 325 mg daily for 7 days moderately increased the appearance of bleeding on probing in a population that had > or = 20% BOP sites.
Schrodi
Janet
J
Departments of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Recio
Luisa
L
Fiorellini
Joseph
J
Howell
Howard
H
Goodson
Max
M
Karimbux
Nadeem
N
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology; D010919:Placebos
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D001241:Aspirin