Cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth: a clinical-epidemiological evaluation of 121 Italian renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Although other immunosuppressive agents have been recently introduced (e.g., tacrolimus), it has been calculated that in the next decade about 1 million people will still be taking cyclosporin (CsA). The association between gingival overgrowth (GO) and the use of CsA is still not clear. In the present study we evaluated the prevalence and the degree of GO in a group of Italian renal transplant patients and the possible relationship between gingival lesions and demographic, oral, systemic, and pharmacological variables.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-one renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy with CsA were evaluated in this study. Patients were classified in two groups. In the first (screening group), we included all those patients referred by the Parma University Renal Transplant Center for a general oral checkup, with no specific indications for GO. The second group (non-screening group) included all those patients who specifically had been referred to the Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine Unit because of GO. We considered the following variables: gender, daily CsA dose, duration of immunosuppressive treatment, CsA plasma concentration, concomitant use of another immunosuppressive agent (azathioprine), use of other GO inducers (calcium channel blockers, anti-epileptic drugs), oral hygiene scores, and other drugs taken at the time of oral examination.


RESULTS
Fisher's exact test and chi square test demonstrated that in the screening group, duration of immunosuppressive treatment and oral hygiene scores were associated both with the prevalence and the high GO scores (P (1) (DIT) <0.0001; P (2) (DIT)=0.0023; P (1) (hyg)=0.0084; P (2) (hyg)=0.0068). In the screening group, concomitant use of CsA and azathioprine is related to a low development degree of GO (P=0.0088). In the non-screening group, we found a significant association between poor oral hygiene and high degree of GO (P=0.0349).


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to a probable genetic predisposition, duration of immunosuppressive treatment and oral hygiene status are the most important variables related to development and degree of GO during the use of CsA in this study.
Vescovi
Paolo
P
Oral Pathology and Medicine Unit, Section of Odontostomatology, Department of ENTDental-Ophthalmological and Cervico-Facial Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Meleti
Marco
M
Manfredi
Maddalena
M
Merigo
Elisabetta
E
Pedrazzi
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007558:Italy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine