Periodontal treatment improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with severe periodontitis.
BACKGROUND
Because epidemiological studies provide evidence that periodontal infections are associated with an increased risk of progression of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, we postulated that endothelial dysfunction, a critical element in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, would be present in patients with periodontal disease.


METHODS
We tested endothelial function in 30 patients with severe periodontitis and 31 control subjects using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. The groups were matched for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. Three months after periodontal treatment, including both mechanical and pharmacological therapy, endothelial function was reassessed by brachial artery FMD. Markers of systemic inflammation were measured at baseline and at follow up.


RESULTS
Flow-mediated dilation was significantly lower in patients with periodontitis than in control subjects (6.1% +/- 4.4% vs 8.5% +/- 3.4%, P = .002). Successful periodontal treatment resulted in a significant improvement in FMD (9.8% +/- 5.7%; P = .003 compared to baseline) accompanied by a significant decrease in C-reactive protein concentrations (1.1 +/- 1.9 vs 0.8 +/- 0.8 at baseline, P = .026). Endothelium-independent nitro-induced vasodilation did not differ between the study groups at baseline or after periodontal therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that treatment of severe periodontitis reverses endothelial dysfunction. Whether improved endothelial function will translate into a beneficial effect on atherogenesis and cardiovascular events needs further investigation.
Division of Angiology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Graz, Austria. gerald.seinost@meduni-graz.at <gerald.seinost@meduni-graz.at>
Gerald
G
Seinost
Gernot
G
Wimmer
Martina
M
Skerget
Erik
E
Thaller
Marianne
M
Brodmann
Robert
R
Gasser
Rudolf O
RO
Bratschko
Ernst
E
Pilger
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index