title: Antimicrobial periodontal treatment decreases serum C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but not adiponectin levels in patients with chronic periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and decreased plasma adiponectin are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, recent observations suggested that adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) suppressed each other's production. Since periodontal disease has been suggested to act as a risk factor for atherosclerosis, we examined the effects of antimicrobial periodontal treatment on CRP, adiponectin, and TNF-alpha levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen chronic periodontitis patients with various systemic conditions at high risk for atherosclerosis were enrolled in the study. Patients were non-surgically treated with topical application of antibiotics and mechanical debridement of calculus once a week for 1 month. Before and after therapy, CRP, adiponectin, and TNF-alpha levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CRP and TNF-alpha levels were significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.01 and P<0.03, respectively), while adiponectin levels did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontal treatment is effective in reducing CRP and TNF-alpha, while adiponectin does not appear to be influenced by periodontal treatment. Elevated levels of CRP and TNF-alpha may be associated with increased risk for future development of atherosclerosis in periodontitis patients.
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008911:Minocycline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008911:Minocycline