title: The effect of sub-antimicrobial dose-doxycycline periodontal therapy on serum inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein levels in post-menopausal Women: A 2-year, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontitis has been reported to be associated with coronary artery disease. Research is needed to determine whether therapies that improve periodontal health also reduce systemic marker of inflammation associated with both diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether sub-antimicrobial dose-doxycycline (SDD) therapy can reduce systemic serum inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) in post-menopausal women who have chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study randomly assigned 128 eligible post-menopausal women with chronic periodontitis to a 90-day, twice-daily regimen of SDD or placebo tablets evaluated for 2 years, as an adjunct to periodontal maintenance therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study assayed blood samples for inflammatory mediators at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years. CRP was measured using a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SDD treatment reduced median high-sensitivity CRP by 18% (primary outcome = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ninety-day SDD regimen in post-menopausal women significantly reduced the serum inflammatory biomarker CRP over a 2-year period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Koppikar
authors.forename: Sneh V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Agrawal
keywords: C-reactive protein; coronary artery disease; periodontitis; sub-antimicrobial dose-doxycycline