title: sTNF-R Levels: Apical Periodontitis Linked to Coronary Heart Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different studies have implicated the exposure to systemic conditions in the aetiology of cardiovascular diseases like chronic inflammation including chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study has been conducted to examine whether biomarker sTNF-R was elevated in apical periodontitis as sTNF-R is a systemic marker of inflammation and has been identified as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  sTNF-R levels were measured in 52 patients with apical periodontitis (M:F::25:27), aged 20-45 years and in 20 control patients without periodontitis (M:F::10:10, aged 20-48 years). Measurement of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 was carried out in duplicate with standardised, commercially available enzyme immunoassays (R&D Systems Europe, Abingdon, UK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 levels in periodontitis were 820 (240) pg/ml (413 - 1620 pg/ml) and 1309 (403) pg/ml (540 - 2430 pg/ml), while in normal sTNF-R1 and sTNF - R2 levels were 740 (340) pg/ml (407-1240 pg/ml) and 1283 (414) pg (480 - 2340 pg/ml) respectively. Results indicated a positive high relationship between cardiovascular markers such as sTNF-R1 and sTNF - R2 and apical periodontitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF - R2 in apical periodontitis patients indicate an increased independent risk of coronary heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Maharana Pratap College of Dentistry and Research Centre, Gwalior (M.P), India.
authors.forename: Rajnish K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.affiliation: World Dental Networks, Denmark, Chief, JBR Society, India; Director, KSI, USA.
authors.forename: Balwant
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rai
keywords: Apical Periodontitis; Systemic inflammatory; coronary heart disease; sTNF-R