ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Over-replication of periodontal pathogens in the periodontium induces production of proinflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein that can stimulate systemic inflammatory status and can initiate atherosclerosis and its consequences. In our pilot study we examined whether periodontal status and serum levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are associated with the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the periodontium of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). MATERIAL/METHODS: We randomly selected 38 of 166 outpatients with CVD, of which 21 patients had chronic ischemic heart disease (IHD) only and 17 had both IHD and essential hypertension (HT). The presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) in the periodontium evaluated by PCR was compared with the values of periodontal indices, namely probe depth (PD) and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN), as well as with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRP serum levels. RESULTS: When comparing A.a.-positive and A.a.-negative groups of patients, no statistically significant differences were noticed as to the age and values of PD and CPITN, respectively. However, the proportion of CRP and IL-6 positive values was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) among A.a.-positive than in A.a.-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of A.a. in patients with CVD may be associated with significantly higher serum levels of some proinflammatory markers.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/microbiology , Gingiva/microbiology , Pasteurellaceae/metabolism , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Humans , Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need , Interleukin-6/blood , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Objective To determine anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies along with anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP)antibodies in comparison with inflammatory markers and other risk factors of atherosclerosis in patients with selected cardiovascular diseases(CVD).Methods A total of 228 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or hypertension (HT), and those who underwent reconstructive vascular surgery (RVS) on carotids or abdominal aorta were tested for the presence of anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies as well as for anti-CP IgA antibodies, C-reactive protein (CRP),and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Other risk factors for atherosclerosis, namely age, gender,smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus were also analyzed. Results Anti-CMV IgG antibodies were found in 204 patients sera (89.5%),compared with 46 positive of 68 sera in the controls (67.6%), whereas anti-CMV IgM antibodies were detected in 4 of 54 sera of patients tested (7.4%), but not in the controls. The highest proportion of positive sera with not only anti-CMV IgG antibodies (95.6.7%),but also anti-CP IgA antibodies (78.3%), IL-6 (84.8%) and CRP (97.8%), was observed in patients with RVS. The results obtained corresponded to age, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Conclusions The presence of anti-CMV antibodies together with antibodies to CP and markers of inflammation (CRP and IL-6) in our study was associated with CVD, primarily in elderly patients who underwent RVS.
