Periodontitis and retinal microcirculation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this cross-sectional study is to explore if periodontitis is associated with alterations of the retinal microcirculation, a predictive marker of cardiovascular events.


METHODS
Of 457 subjects aged 52 years and more from the ARIC cohort were included. Retinal vascular diameters were measured and summarized as central retinal arteriolar/venular equivalents (CRAE/CRVE). Periodontitis was determined by using the CDC/AAP definition. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the relationships between CRAE, CRVE and periodontitis.


RESULTS
No association was found between CRAE and periodontal status. However, CRVE and severe periodontitis were positively and significantly associated. Mean CRVE (±SD) was 187.0 ± 17.2 μm in the health-gingivitis group, and, respectively, 188.5 ± 16.3 μm (p = 0.39) and 191.6 ± 16.8 μm (p = 0.04) in moderate and severe periodontitis groups, after adjustment for a propensity score based on confounders. Results were consistent when analyses were restricted to participants with diabetes mellitus (n = 66), but not diabetes-free subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe periodontitis is associated with larger retinal venular diameter in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of diabetes mellitus on the association between periodontitis and retinal microcirculation.
Department of Periodontology, Rothschild Hospital (AP-HP), UFR of Odontology, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France; INSERM UMS 011, Population-Based Cohort Platform, Villejuif, France.
Adrien
A
Boillot
Philippe
P
Bouchard
Kevin
K
Moss
Steven
S
Offenbacher
Sébastien
S
Czernichow
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
microcirculation; periodontitis; retina