title: Association of Porphyromonas gingivalis with high levels of stress-induced hormone cortisol in chronic periodontitis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the occurrence of periodontopathogens with cortisol levels in chronic periodontitis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five chronic periodontitis patients were invited to participate in the present study. Cortisol levels in serum were measured using an immunoassay method. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were detected by polymerase chain reaction using primers designed to target the respective 16S rRNA gene sequences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severe chronic periodontitis patients showed higher mean levels of cortisol (P < 0.05). Twenty-six patients had hypercortisolemia. High cortisol levels showed a positive significant correlation with P. gingivalis (r = 0.237, P < 0.01). Of the 26 patients with hypercortisolemia, 81% had P. gingivalis, of which 86% had severe chronic periodontitis (P < 0.001). There were higher levels of cortisol with the presence of P. gingivalis (478.65 ± 122.57 vs 402.58 ± 139.60, P = 0.01). The adjusted logistic regression model showed a significant association between high cortisol levels and P. gingivalis (odds ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.6-1.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research offers support for the association between P. gingivalis and higher levels of cortisol in chronic periodontitis patients. These results suggest that high levels of cortisol could increase the occurrence of P. gingivalis in the biofilm.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Stomatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. martin.ardila@udea.edu.co.
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ardila
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Stomatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Isabel C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Guzmán
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003105:Colombia; D003773:Dental Plaque; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D000070436:Tannerella forsythia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: 
  Porphyromonas gingivalis
  ; cortisol; periodontal disease; periodontitis; psychological stress