Associations between IgG antibody to oral organisms and carotid intima-medial thickness in community-dwelling adults.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study are to describe the relationships between IgG antibodies to 17 oral organisms and atherosclerosis as indexed by carotid intima-medial wall thickness (IMT) and to evaluate the role of smoking.


RESULTS
Our study is based on a subset of participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, who received a complete periodontal examination during visit 4 (1996-1998). The outcome was mean carotid IMT>/=1mm assessed by B-mode ultrasound. The exposures were serum IgG antibody levels against 17 periodontal organisms using a whole bacterial checkerboard immunoblotting technique. Evaluation of all 17 antibodies indicated that antibody to Campylobacter rectus resulted in the best-fitting model (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.83-2.84) and individuals with both high C. rectus and Peptostreptococcus micros titers had almost twice the prevalence of IMT>/=1mm than those with only a high C. rectus antibody (8.3% versus 16.3%). Stratification by smoking indicated that all microbial models significant for smokers were also significant for never smokers except for Porphyromonas gingivalis (p=0.08).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to report a relationship between IgG antibody reactive to oral organisms and subclinical atherosclerosis with significant relationships evident in both ever and never smokers.
Beck
James D
JD
Department of Dental Ecology, CB #7450, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. James_Beck@unc.edu
Eke
Paul
P
Lin
Dongming
D
Madianos
Phoebus
P
Couper
David
D
Moss
Kevin
K
Elter
John
J
Heiss
Gerardo
G
Offenbacher
Steven
S
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007074:Immunoglobulin G