title: Measurement of atherosclerosis markers in patients with periodontitis: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is suggested that periodontitis enhances the process of vascular inflammation leading to atherosclerosis. The present study explores the effect of periodontitis in relation to the clinical and ultrasound markers of carotid atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty systemically healthy patients >45 years of age (30 with chronic periodontitis and 30 without periodontitis) were studied in a university dental school. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors for atherosclerosis were evaluated. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The internal carotid IMT was 0.77 and 0.81 mm in the periodontal disease and control groups, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.538). There were significant differences in the presence of carotid atheroma plaques and the severity of periodontitis (P = 0.003). In the logistic regression analysis, significant differences in terms of age and periodontitis were recorded in relation to the presence of atheroma plaques in the carotid intima.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of periodontitis was seen to influence the presence of carotid atheroma plaques.
authors: Department of Oral Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: López-Jornet
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Berná-Mestre
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Berná-Serna
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Camacho-Alonso
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Fernandez-Millan
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Reus-Pintado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D010512:Periodontal Index; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014280:Triglycerides