Ultrastructure of the gingiva in cardiac patients treated with or without calcium channel blockers.
OBJECTIVE
In the last few years, several studies have suggested that periodontal diseases are related to the development of atherosclerosis and its complications. Our objective was to study the ultrastructural morphology of the gingiva from cardiac patients, some of whom were treated and some not with calcium channel blockers compared to a control group.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients were studied and grouped in the following way: (a) healthy group (HG) (n=12) healthy patients with at least two pockets between 3 and 5 mm; (b) cardiac group (CG) (n=12) patients with cardiac disease untreated with calcium channel blockers; (c) diltiazem group (DG) (n=13) cardiac patients treated with diltiazem; (d) nifedipine group (NG) (n=18) cardiac patients treated with nifedipine.


RESULTS
Ultrastructural studies in the CG showed inflammatory cells, collagen fibers disruption and a more extended morphologically compromised fibroblast mitochondria. Morphometric studies in CG showed mitochondria that were impaired in number but increased in volume, suggesting metabolic cell suffering. In DG and NG, morphometric data were similar to HG. The presence of myofibroblasts and collagen neosynthesis was detected in DG and NG.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed differences in the ultrastructure of the gingival fibroblasts between the studied groups; the DG and NG showed features that could be interpreted as an attempt to restore the cellular metabolic function.
Bullon
P
P
Department of Periodontology, Dental School, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain. pbullon@us.es
Pugnaloni
A
A
Gallardo
I
I
Machuca
G
G
Hevia
A
A
Battino
M
M
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D022002:Hemidesmosomes / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine