title: Treatment of denture-related stomatitis improves endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vascular dilation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of oral inflammation has recently been linked with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. While numerous studies have described links between periodontitis and endothelial dysfunction, little is known about the influence of denture-related stomatitis (DRS) on cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the treatment of DRS can lead to improvement of the clinical measures of vascular dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The DRS patients were treated with a local oral antifungal agent for 3 weeks. Blood pressure, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-mediated vascular dilatation (NMD) were measured during three study visits: before treatment, one day and two months after conclusion of antifungal therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flow-mediated dilatation measurements showed significant improvement of endothelial function 2 months after treatment (FMD median 5%, 95 CI: 3-8.3 vs. 11%, 95% CI: 8.8-14.4;p< 0.01), while there was no difference in control, endothelium-independent vasorelaxations (NMD; median = 15.3%, 95% CI: 10.8-19.3 vs. 12.7%, 95% CI: 10.6-15;p= 0.3). Other cardiovascular parameters such as systolic (median = 125 mm Hg; 95% CI: 116-129 vs. 120 mm Hg, 95% CI: 116-126;p= 0.1) as well as diastolic blood pressure and heart rate (median = 65.5 bpm, 95% CI: 56.7-77.7 vs. 71 bpm, 95% CI: 66.7-75;p= 0.5) did not change during or after the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of DRS is associated with improvement of endothelial function. Since endothelial dysfunction is known to precede the development of severe cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and hypertension, patients should be more carefully screened for DRS in general dental practice, and immediate DRS treatment should be advised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Osmenda
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Prophylaxis and Experimental Dentistry, Dental School, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maciąg
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.affiliation: Zbigniew Żak Voivodeship Dental Clinic, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maciąg
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Prophylaxis and Experimental Dentistry, Dental School, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Dental School, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loster
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Dental School, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dembowska
authors.affiliation: Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Agricultural Medicine, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Prophylaxis and Experimental Dentistry, Dental School, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cześnikiewicz-Guzik
keywords: Candida albicans; blood pressure; denture; endothelial dysfunction; nystatin