The association between infection of Epstein-Barr virus and chronic periodontitis / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and chronic periodontitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In 62 chronic periodontitis patients, subgingival plaque samples were collected from active periodontitis site, quiescent periodontitis site, and initial gingivitis sites of each subject. The nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) was used to determine the presence of EBV.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The EBV was detected in 58.0% of the samples from active periodontitis sites, which was significantly higher than that from quiescent periodontitis sites (58.0% vs 22.6%, P < 0.01) and from initial gingivitis sites (58.0% vs 19.4%, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that EBV infection is associated with the activity of chronic periodontitis.</p>