title: Increased gingival blood vessel density in SLE patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a serious multisystem disease with a variety of cutaneous and oral manifestations. It is an autoimmune disorder whereby patients develop autoantibodies to many of their cells, cell components, and tissue. The microvascular changes in SLE play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the gingival microcirculation in SLE patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen SLE patients and 15 healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Gingival microcirculation was investigated using videocapillaroscopy, a noninvasive technique that permits the in vivo evaluation of microvascular patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between patients and controls for the capillary density were seen. An increase of mean capillary density was observed in SLE patients (105.5 ± 3.41) (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed significant modifications of gingival microcirculation in SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Oncology, Section of Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. scardina@odonto.unipa.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe Alessandro
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Scardina
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Messina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index