Antibodies to periodontal pathogens are associated with coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the association of coronary heart disease (CHD) and serology of periodontitis in a random sample (n=1163) of men (aged 45 to 74 years) by determining serum IgG-antibodies to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis.


RESULTS
CHD (n=159) was more prevalent among edentulous than dentate subjects (19.8% and 12.1%, P=0.003). In the dentate population, CHD was more common among subjects seropositive for P. gingivalis compared with those seronegative (14.0% and 9.7%, P=0.029). Accordingly, CHD was more prevalent in subjects with a high combined antibody response than those with a low response (17.4% and 11.1%, P=0.026). When adjusted for age and several CHD risk factors, the subjects with a high combined antibody response had an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI, 0.95 to 2.50, P=0.077) for prevalent CHD. In a linear regression model, the combined antibody response was directly associated with prevalent CHD (P=0.046) and inversely with serum HDL cholesterol concentration (P=0.050).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, edentulousness and serum antibodies to major periodontal pathogens were associated with CHD. This suggests that periodontal infection or response of the host against the infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of CHD.
Pussinen
Pirkko J
PJ
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. pirkko.pussinen@helsinki.fi
Jousilahti
Pekka
P
Alfthan
Georg
G
Palosuo
Timo
T
Asikainen
Sirkka
S
Salomaa
Veikko
V
D000368:Aged; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007074:Immunoglobulin G