Heart and periodontal diseases: does evidence exist of association?
Cardiovascular diseases represent one of the main causes of death in developed societies. These diseases are not only important because of the mortality they generate, but also due to the high number of affected persons under treatment that the health systems of different countries have to support. Hence, the early detection of risk factors triggering these diseases has been seen as the most effective mechanism to prevent them. Over the last few years periodontal pathology has been more or less related to the suffering of cardiovascular diseases. This fact could be of great clinical and epidemiological relevance owing to the actual considerable prevalence of periodontal diseases. In the present review, the clinical and physiopathological factors which scientifically support this association are analyzed,reaching the conclusion that further studies are needed to have the proof that said association represents a determinate risk factor for the suffering of cardiovascular diseases.
Jiménez-Beato
Gema
G
Clínica Odontológica Integrada de Pacientes Especiales, Facultad de Odontología de Sevilla, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla.
Machuca-Portillo
Guillermo
G
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides