Deposition of Immune Complexes in Gingival Tissues in the Presence of Periodontitis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune disease characterized by tissue damage and widespread inflammation in response to environmental challenges. Deposition of immune complexes in kidneys glomeruli are associated with lupus nephritis, determining SLE diagnosis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by clinical attachment and bone loss, caused by a microbial challenge - host response interaction. Deposition of immune complex at gingival tissues is a common finding in the course of the disease. Considering that, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the deposition of immune complexes at gingival tissues of SLE patients compared to systemically healthy ones, correlating it to periodontal and systemic parameters. Twenty-five women diagnosed with SLE (SLE+) and 25 age-matched systemically healthy (SLE-) women were included in the study. Detailed information on overall patient's health were obtained from file records. Participants were screened for probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival recession (REC), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) and plaque scores (FMPS). Bone loss was determined at panoramic X-ray images as the distance from cementenamel junction to alveolar crest (CEJ-AC). Gingival biopsies were obtained from the first 15 patients submitted to surgical periodontal therapy of each group, and were analyzed by optical microscopy and direct immunofluorescence to investigate the deposition of antigen-antibody complexes. Eleven (44%) patients were diagnosed with active SLE (SLE-A) and 14 (56%) with inactive SLE (LES-I). Mean PD, CAL and FMBS were significantly lower in SLE+ than SLE-(p < 0.05; Mann Whitney). The chronic use of low doses of immunosuppressants was associated with lower prevalence of CAL >3 mm. Immunofluorescence staining of markers of lupus nephritis and/or proteinuria was significantly increased in SLE+ compared to SLE-, even in the presence of periodontitis. These findings suggest that immunomodulatory drugs in SLE improves periodontal parameters. The greater deposition of antigen-antibody complexes in the gingival tissues of patients diagnosed with SLE may be a marker of disease activity, possibly complementing their diagnosis.

Deposition of immune complexes in gingival tissues in the presence of periodontitis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune disease characterized by tissue damage and widespread inflammation in response to environmental challenges. Deposition of immune complexes in kidneys glomeruli are associated with lupus nephritis, determining SLE diagnosis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by clinical attachment and bone loss, caused by a microbial challenge ­ host response interaction. Deposition of immune complex at gingival tissues is a common finding in the course of the disease. Considering that, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the deposition of immune complexes at gingival tissues of SLE patients compared to systemically healthy ones, correlating it to periodontal and systemic parameters. Twenty-five women diagnosed with SLE (SLE+) and 25 age-matched systemically healthy (SLE­) women were included in the study. Detailed information on overall patient's health were obtained from file records. Participants were screened for probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival recession (REC), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) and plaque scores (FMPS). Bone loss was determined at panoramic X-ray images as the distance from cementenamel junction to alveolar crest (CEJ-AC). Gingival biopsies were obtained from the first 15 patients submitted to surgical periodontal therapy of each group, and were analyzed by optical microscopy and direct immunofluorescence to investigate the deposition of antigen-antibody complexes. Eleven (44%) patients were diagnosed with active SLE (SLE-A) and 14 (56%) with inactive SLE (LES-I). Mean PD, CAL and FMBS were significantly lower in SLE+ than SLE­(p < 0.05; Mann Whitney). The chronic use of low doses of immunosuppressants was associated with lower prevalence of CAL >3 mm. Immunofluorescence staining of markers of lupus nephritis and/or proteinuria was significantly increased in SLE+ compared to SLE­, even in the presence of periodontitis. These findings suggest that immunomodulatory drugs in SLE improves periodontal parameters. The greater deposition of antigen-antibody complexes in the gingival tissues of patients diagnosed with SLE may be a marker of disease activity, possibly complementing their diagnosis.

Avaliação clínica e microbiológica relacionada à doença periodontal em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico / Clinical and microbiological analysis of parameters related to periodontal disease in systemic lupus erythematous patients

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) é uma doença autoimune caracterizada por hiperatividade imunológica crônica pela ação de autoanticorpos que afetam diversos órgãos. Embora o uso crônico de imunossupressores predisponha o paciente a infecções, poucas pesquisas avaliaram uma possível associação entre doença periodontal e LES. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar, por meio de estudo caso-controle, a prevalência e a gravidade da doença periodontal em pacientes com LES, e identificar e quantificar as principais bactérias periodontais presentes no biofilme subgengival. Foram incluídas 60 mulheres em atendimento no Setor de Reumatologia do Hospital Universitário de Brasília, de 20 a 65 anos de idade, sendo subdivididas em LES-A (ativo; n= 31) e LES-I (inativo; n=29). O grupo controle foi composto por 31 mulheres com os mesmos critérios de inclusão, porém sem doenças sistêmicas. As pacientes foram avaliadas quanto às medidas de profundidade de sondagem (P.S), perda de inserção clínica (PIC), índice de sangramento do sulco (ISS) e índice de placa (IPl) no exame inicial. Foram coletados biofilmes subgengivais dos quatro sítios mais profundos para identificação e quantificação de periodontopatógenos por meio de hibridação DNA-DNA checkerboard. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente entre os grupos relativamente aos parâmetros clínicos periodontais, exceto para o ISS, que foi menor no LESA (11,19% ± 14,62%) comparativamente ao grupo controle (17,30% ± 14,88%), porém sem diferenças quando comparado com o grupo LES-I (11,34% ± 11,59%). Houve baixa prevalência de bolsas periodontais, de PIC ≥ 4 mm e de espécies de Actinomyces em todos os grupos. Verificou-se aumento na contagem de bactérias do complexo vermelho no grupo LES-I (4,07 x 105; 95% CI: 0,16-0,79) em relação ao grupo controle (2,50 x 105; 95% CI: 1,23-3,77), com diferenças estatisticamente significante apenas referente ao grupo LES-A (p< 0,05; Kruskal Wallis pós-teste Dunn; 0,45 x 105; 95% CI: 0,16-0,79). Os resultados desse estudo demonstraram que os parâmetros periodontais são semelhantes entre pacientes com LES e grupo controle. O grupo de LES-I apresentou maior tempo dessa doença; aumento da contagem de microorganismos (especialmente dos complexos vermelho e verde em amostras de biofilme subgengival) e pior condição periodontal.(AU)

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic immunological hyperactivity resultant from the action of autoantibodies, affecting many organs. Although the use of immune suppressors may predispose infections, few studies have investigated the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in SLE patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in SLE patients and the sub gingival levels of different pathogens. A total of 60 women attending of Brasília University Hospital, aged 18-65 years, were invited to participate in the study. SLE patients were allocated in two subgroups according with disease activity: SLE-A (active disease; n= 31) and SLE-I (inactive disease; n= 29). A number of 31 systemically healthy women at the same age range composed control group. Patients were clinically examined according to probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), sulcular bleeding index (SBI) and plaque index (PLI) at baseline examination. Sub gingival biofilm samples were collected from the deepest four sites before periodontal treatment in order to identify and quantify the level of periodontopathogens by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. No significant differences were found between groups in PD, CAL and PLI. Significant differences were observed in GBI between SLE-A (11,19% ± 14,62%) compared to controls (17,30% ± 14.88%), although with no differences when compared to SLE-I (11,34% ± 11,59%). There was a low prevalence of PD and attachment loss ≥ 4 mm at all groups. A low prevalence of Actinomyces was observed at all groups, with an increase in red complex species at LES-I (4,07 x 105; 95% CI: 0,16-0,79) compared to control (2,50 x 105; 95% CI: 1,23-3,77), although with significant differences (p< 0,05; Kruskal Wallis post hoc Dunn) only when compared to SLE-A (0,45 x 105; 95% CI: 0,16-0,79). These findings show no differences in the periodontal conditions of SLE compared to systemically healthy patients, except for a decrease in gingival bleeding index, especially at SLE-A. Reductions in microorganisms' count were observed at SLE-A, while an increase in bacterial count, especially at red and green complex, were observed at subgingival biofilm of SLE-I patients.(AU)