Gingival enlargement among renal transplant recipients in the era of new-generation immunosuppressants.
BACKGROUND
Tacrolimus is a new-generation immunosuppressant as successful as cyclosporin in suppressing organ transplant rejection. Although cyclosporin is known to cause gingival enlargement (GE), tacrolimus has not been associated with this condition. We sought to explore the prevalence of GE among renal transplant recipients (RTRs) in relation to cyclosporin and tacrolimus while controlling for the effect of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and supragingival plaque.


METHODS
RTRs were recruited from our institution's Kidney Transplant Unit. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire and received a complete oral examination, including a soft tissue examination and a periodontal examination measuring probing depth, recession, bleeding on probing, plaque index (PI), and GE.


RESULTS
Among 115 RTRs, 39 (34%) presented with GE, with the highest prevalence among those taking cyclosporin and CCBs (76%) and the lowest among tacrolimus users not on a CCB (15%). Tacrolimus was not found to be associated with GE. Cyclosporin was found to be associated with GE in a univariate analysis stratified by the use of CCBs, but multivariate analysis revealed that the only significant risk factors for GE were the use of CCBs and the widespread presence of abundant supragingival plaque (PI > or =2 on >40% of tooth surfaces).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed that tacrolimus is not associated with GE. Cyclosporin taken at the currently recommended low dosage and not in combination with a CCB may not be associated with a significant risk for GE in individuals with good oral hygiene. CCBs should be avoided among patients taking cyclosporin and those with poor oral hygiene.
Greenberg
Katja V
KV
Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of California-San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Armitage
Gary C
GC
Shiboski
Caroline H
CH
D000328:Adult; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus