Effect of adjunctive systemic azithromycin with periodontal surgery in the treatment of chronic periodontitis in smokers: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Along with conventional surgical therapy, systemic antibiotics may provide more effective treatment in smokers by targeting tissue-invasive bacteria. The aim of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked clinical trial was to evaluate the adjunctive effects of systemic azithromycin (AZM) in combination with periodontal pocket reduction surgery in the treatment of chronic periodontitis in smokers.


METHODS
Thirty patients with a greater than one pack/day smoking habit and generalized moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were randomized to the test (surgery plus 3 days of AZM, 500 mg) or control group (surgery plus 3 days of placebo). Full-mouth probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), plaque index, and wound healing indices (WHI) were assessed at baseline and at 2 weeks and 1, 3, and 6 months following surgical intervention. Plaque and gingival crevicular fluid were collected for trypsin-like enzyme activity (benzoyl-dl-arginine naphthylamine) and bone biomarker (crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen [ICTP]) analyses, respectively, at baseline, 2 weeks, and 1, 3, and 6 months.


RESULTS
Surgical treatment of moderate (PD = 4 to 6 mm) and deep (PD > 6 mm) pockets significantly improved clinical parameters of treated and untreated teeth (CAL gain, PD reduction, and reduction of BOP). The additional use of AZM did not enhance this improvement nor did it promote reduction of ICTP levels. Compared to the control group, the test group had significantly better WHI scores at 1 month, significantly less GI at 2 weeks, and sustained reductions of red-complex bacteria with trypsin-like enzyme activity at 3 months. For non-surgery teeth, only the test group showed significant gains in overall CAL compared to baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this pilot study demonstrated that in heavy smokers, adjunctive systemic AZM in combination with pocket reduction surgery did not significantly enhance PD reduction or CAL gain. However, the clinical value of adjunctive AZM may be appreciated by more rapid wound healing, less short-term gingival inflammation, and sustained reductions of periopathogenic bacteria. More expanded studies are recommended to better determine the clinical effects of adjunctive AZM in patients who smoke.
Dastoor
Sarosh F
SF
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA.
Travan
Suncica
S
Neiva
Rodrigo F
RF
Rayburn
Lindsay A
LA
Giannobile
William V
WV
Wang
Hom-Lay
HL
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001587:Benzoylarginine-2-Naphthylamide / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D024042:Collagen Type I; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010455:Peptides; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011347:Procollagen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011347:Procollagen; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D001587:Benzoylarginine-2-Naphthylamide; D017963:Azithromycin