title: Periodontal health in breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors versus postmenopausal controls: a longitudinal analysis.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine periodontal changes in postmenopausal breast cancer (BCa) survivors using aromatase inhibitors (AI) as compared to postmenopausal women without BCa.
  
  
  
  An 18-month prospective examination of periodontal health in postmenopausal women (29 receiving AI therapy; 29 women without BCa) was conducted at University of Michigan. Comprehensive periodontal examinations including alveolar bone height (ABH) were conducted at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months. Bisphosphonate, vitamin D, and calcium supplementation were collected via chart review. Linear mixed models were utilized to investigate the relationship between AI and periodontal measures.
  
  
  
  Aromatase inhibitor users had significantly deeper probing depths, more dental plaque and clinical attachment loss as compared to controls at the 6, 12, and 18 month study visits (p < 0.05). ABH loss was seen over time within the AI group. The linear mixed model showed a significant effect of time as well as an interaction between aromatase inhibitor use and calcium supplement status. AI users taking calcium experienced less ABH loss over the study than AI users not taking calcium (p = 0.005).
  
  
  
  Aromatase inhibitor therapy has a negative impact on the periodontal health of postmenopausal BCa patients. Calcium supplementation appears to mitigate ABH loss in women on AI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Iwonka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eagle
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benavides
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eber
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Giselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolenic
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Younghun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Poznak
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: L Susan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6002-0482
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Taichman
mesh_terms: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D015519:Bone Density; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: aromatase inhibitors; biological markers; breast neoplasms; periodontal attachment loss; postmenopause; women health