title: Relation between periodontal disease and arterial stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Periodontal disease has been described as playing a role in the atherosclerosis process, and its relation with intimal thickness and vascular endothelial function (EF) has been investigated. The present study sought to determine whether there are differences in parameters of arterial stiffness and EF between patients with and without severe periodontal disease (SPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred to the School of Dentistry University of Buenos Aires, were assessed. Demographic characteristics, atherogenic risk factors and concomitant pathologies were recorded. Patients with known cardiovascular pathology were excluded. Using carotid Doppler ultrasound an operator assessed arterial stiffness parameters: compliance, elastic modulus (EM), β stiffness index (βSI) and vascular EF by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation. The patients were divided into two groups: with and without SPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients were included; 60% were women; 15 were in the SPD group and 25 in the group without SPD. Respective results of the studied variables were: age 56.53 ± 17.58 vs. 51.12 ± 12.97 years (NS); probing depth 2.53 ± 1.30 (95% CI 1.81-3.25) vs. 1.25 ± 0.51 (95% CI 1.31-1.73) p = 0.02; clinical attachment level 4.80 ± 2.00 (95% CI 3.69-5.91) vs. 1.72 ± 0.93 (95% CI 1.33-2.11) p = 0.001; intimal thickness 0.10 ± 0.17 (95% CI 0.095-0.11) vs. 0.82 ± 0.18 (95% CI 0.074-0.98) (NS); EM 48.33 ± 12.53 vs. 38.86 ± 7.69 (p = 0.005); βSI 4.21 ± 1.03 vs. 3.64 ± 1.02 (p = 0.004); EF 16.13 ± 5.02 vs. 22.76 ± 4.50 (p = 0.0003). Correlation between: EM and clinical attachment level r = 0.58 (p < 0.001), βSI and clinical attachment level r = 0.66 (p < 0.001), EF and clinical attachment level 0.59 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parameters of arterial stiffness and EF were worse in patients with SPD and correlated moderately with clinical attachment level. Correlation with compliance and EF was negative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Spanish Hospital of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rudzinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pompeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guanca
authors.affiliation: Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gelpi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Spanish Hospital of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Department of Buccodental and Clinical Pathology, Cardiovascular Physiopathology Institute, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rubio
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: endothelium; periodontal disease; periodontal medicine; risk factor