title: Risk of periodontal disease: is there a correlation with the type of antihypertensive medication?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term oral antihypertensive treatment using centrally acting sympatho-inhibitory drugs (clonidine) and beta-blockers (metoprolol) on capillary microcirculation in the labial and periodontal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty subjects were recruited for the study: 20 patients affected by hypertension in treatment with centrally-acting sympatho-inhibitory drugs (64.28 ± 11.78 years); 20 patients in treatment with beta-blockers (62.03 ± 9.84 years) and 20 healthy subjects (62.06 ± 6.72 years). We use the videocapillaroscopic technique to evaluate in vivo the microcirculation of the labial mucosa corresponding to the lower lip and of the periodontal mucosa corresponding to the central superior incisor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Capillaroscopy revealed a significant increase in the length, diameter, tortuousity and density (P <0.05) of capillaries in patients affected by hypertension in treatment with centrally acting sympatho-inhibitory drugs, while beta-blockers had a lower effect on the labial and periodontal microcirculation compared to the healthy population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The capillaroscopic has revealed substantial modifications of the oral microcirculatory pattern in hypertensive patients in treatment with centrally-acting sympatho-inhibitory drugs than with beta-blockers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Palermo Italy. scardina@odonto.unipa.it
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Scardina
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Messina
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008790:Metoprolol; D003000:Clonidine