Patient with severe periodontitis and subgingival Epstein-Barr virus treated with antiviral therapy.
It has been suggested that the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can increase the severity of marginal periodontitis. We administered antiviral treatment (Valtrex for a period of 10 days) to a patient with recurrent periodontal disease and a high EBV load subgingivally. The antiviral treatment decreased the presence of EBV to the detection limit and the periodontal condition improved dramatically. One year after treatment, the periodontal condition was still stable and the virus barely detectable. The case suggests that virus screening and subsequent antiviral therapy may be useful as an adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy.
Sunde
Pia Titterud
PT
Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Olsen
Ingar
I
Enersen
Morten
M
Grinde
Bjørn
B
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005881:Gingiva / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir