Risk factors for atherosclerosis in cases with severe periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have reported on an association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and periodontitis. The purpose of this case-control study was to provide an insight into this association by determining the plasma levels of some risk markers for CVD in cases with periodontitis.


METHODS
Sixty-eight cases with periodontitis, mean age 53.9 (SD 7.9) years, and 48 randomly selected healthy controls, mean age 53.1 (SD 7.9) years, were investigated. Fasting blood plasma was analysed for glucose, lipids, markers systemic inflammation, cytokines and antibodies against heat shock proteins (Hsp). The associations between periodontitis and the various substances analysed in plasma were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model, which compensated for age, gender, smoking and body mass index.


RESULTS
The regression analyses revealed a significant association between periodontitis and high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) [odds ratio (OR) 4.0, confidence interval (CI) 1.4-11.4] and fibrinogen (OR 8.7, CI 2.6-28.4), IL-18 (OR 6.5, CI 2.2-19.5), and decreased levels of IL-4 (OR 0.12, CI 0.0-0.5). The study showed increased levels of antibodies against Hsp65 (OR 2.8, CI 1-7.6) and 70 (OR 2.9, CI 1.1-7.8) and decreased levels of antibodies against Hsp60 (OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Periodontitis was associated with increased levels of CRP, glucose, fibrinogen and IL-18, and with decreased levels of IL-4.
Buhlin
Kåre
K
Department of Periodontology, Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. kare.buhlin@ki.se
Hultin
Margareta
M
Norderyd
Ola
O
Persson
Lena
L
Pockley
Alan Graham
AG
Rabe
Per
P
Klinge
Björn
B
Gustafsson
Anders
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D015847:Interleukin-4; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein