title: Evidence that periodontal treatment improves biomarkers and CVD outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to critically appraise the evidence on the impact of periodontal treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) biomarkers and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search was performed in Cinhal, Cochrane, Embase and Medline for relevant articles up to July 2012. Duplicate screening and reference hand searching were performed. Data were then summarized and evidence graded in tables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search resulted in: (a) no evidence on the effects of periodontal therapy on subclinical atherosclerosis, serum levels of CD40 ligand, serum amyloid A and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, (b) limited evidence on the effects of periodontal therapy on arterial blood pressure, leucocyte counts, fibrinogen, tissue necrosis factor-α, sE-selectin, von Willebrand factors, d-dimers, matrix metalloproteinases, oxidative stress and CVD events, and (c) moderate evidence suggesting a negligible effect of periodontal therapy in reducing interleukin-6 and lipids levels, whilst a positive effect in reducing serum C-reactive protein levels and improving endothelial function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontal therapy triggers a short-term inflammatory response followed by (a) a progressive and consistent reduction of systemic inflammation and (b) an improvement in endothelial function. There is however limited evidence that these acute and chronic changes will either increase or reduce CVD burden of individuals suffering from periodontitis in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Periodontology Unit, Department of Clinical Research, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK. f.daiuto@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Aiuto
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gunsolley
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein