Periodontal status and sulcular Candida albicans colonization in patients with primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the periodontal status and prevalence of sulcular Candida albicans between subjects with primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS-1) and healthy control subjects.


METHODS
Ten SS-1 subjects and 10 age- and sex-matched control subjects were recruited. All subjects met the comprehensive European Community Criteria for primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Periodontal probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque and gingivitis were scored on index teeth in each subject. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume was measured from the same teeth using Periopaper strips. Candida albicans presence was determined by plating paper strips directly into culture media tubes (Oricult kit).


RESULTS
Despite having similar mean PD measures and gingivitis and plaque scores, SS-1 subjects who had Sjögren's Syndrome for a mean of 8.8 years had significantly more CAL (5.4 mm vs 2.7 mm; P < .01) and GCF (101.3 +/- 4.25 microL vs 33.0 +/- 1.91 microL; P < .001) than healthy control subjects. Candida albicans was detected in the sulci of only one SS-1 subject and in none of the control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that the cohort of the SS-1 patients in this particular study have significantly more gingival recession and GCF than do control subjects. The increased attachment loss in SS-1 patients is not attributed to an increase in colonization of the gingival sulci by Candida albicans organisms.
Rhodus
Nelson L
NL
Division of Oral Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. rhodu001@umn.edu
Michalowicz
Bryan S
BS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*