title: Antibodies to periodontal pathogens are associated with coronary heart disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. pirkko.pussinen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Pirkko J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pussinen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jousilahti
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palosuo
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asikainen
authors.forename: Veikko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salomaa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007074:Immunoglobulin G