title: Periodontal care may improve systemic inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontitis is an infectious chronic insidious disease of the tooth supporting structures that causes a general inflammatory response. The aims of the study were to determine whether periodontitis is associated with markers of general inflammation high-sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP) leading to cardiovascular disease, and whether proper management of the periodontal disease would improve inflammation and thus, may prevent cardiovascular disease in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective case-controlled pilot study. Nine patients (3 women, 6 men; 40+/-5 yr) took part. All had severe periodontitis, without systemic disorders, and were all treated conservatively without surgical intervention. All had a 2nd visit after 3 months of treatment at the Outpatient Dental Clinic of the Hospital. Periodontal status and hs-CRP were evaluated on entry to the study and 3 months after treatment. Nine age and sex-matched healthy volunteers without periodontal disease served as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontal clinical parameters were improved after 3 months' treatment: probing depth (PD) (mean) at baseline was 4.3 and after 3 months' treatment improved to 3.2 (P=0.001), clinical attachment level (CAL) (mean) was 4.6 and changed to 3.7 (P=0.01), bleeding on probing (BOP %) changed from 64% to 33% (P=0.001), and Plaque index (Pi) changed from 49% to 25% (P=0.001). hs-CRP level was different between the patients'group (pre treatment) and the healthy volunteers: 2.97+/-0.58 mg/L vs. 0.25+/-0.14 mg/L (P=0.00002). After completing 3 months' treatment, hs-CRP levels were decreased from 2.97+/-0.58 mg/L to 2.3+/-0.7 mg/L (P=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontitis is an infectious condition that may be an insidious cause of chronic inflammation and may be a risk factor for future cardiovascular disease. Treating periodontitis improved inflammation, and might be used as an important prevention tool for cardiovascular disease.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine A, Baruch-Padeh Poriya Medical Center, Lower Galilee, Israel. navablum@hotmail.com
authors: Arnon
authors: A
authors: Blum
authors: Eran
authors: E
authors: Front
authors: Aviva
authors: A
authors: Peleg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein