Gingivitis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in children and adolescents suffering from Leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic sickness can originate and proliferate alterations in the periodontium. The presence of Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) in patients suffering destructive periodontal disease and systemic illness has been widely proven. OBJECTIVE: To determine the existent relation between gingivitis and ANCA in children and adolescents suffering from leukemia. These patients were examined at the Autonomous Services of the University Hospital in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and at the Hospital of Pediatrics Foundation in Zulia State, Venezuela. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 patients ranging from 6 to 16 years of age were included in a controlled study. 20 patients suffering from acute leukemia constituted an experimental group, and 20 more patients without apparent systemic sickness who formed a control group. All 40 patients underwent clinical evaluation, and periodontal tissue radiographic evaluation and assessment of ANCA through an enzyme-linked immunoasorbent assay (ELISA); this was done using an IMMCO Diagnostic commercial kit. RESULTS: No Significant differences in the gingivitis average index, plaque and bone loss between the experimental and the control group were evidenced. A significant correlation between gingivitis and ANCA was not evidenced either. Nevertheless, 7 out of 20 patients of the experimental group turned out to be ANCA positive. In contrast, no positive cases were reported in the control group. (p < 0.05 Fisher Test). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the presence of ANCA is probably related to ongoing immune alterations in patients suffering from leukemia but not related to gingivitis.

Gingivitis y Anticuerpos Anticitoplasmáticos de Neutrófilos en niños y adolescentes con leucemia / Gingivitis and Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in children and adolescents suffering from leukemia

Introducción: Las enfermedades sistémicas pueden originar y exacerbar alteraciones en el periodonto. Se ha demostrado la presencia de Anticuerpos Anticitoplasmáticos de neutrófilos (ANCA) en pacientes con enfermedad periodontal destructiva y con enfermedades sistémicas. Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre gingivitis y los ANCA en niños y adolescentes con leucemia que asistieron al Servicio Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo y a la Fundación del Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas Zulia - Venezuela. Material y Método: En un estudio controlado fueron incluidos un total de 40 sujetos entre 6 y 16 años de edad. Un grupo experimental de 20 pacientes con leucemia aguda y un grupo control de 20 sujetos sin enfermedad sistémica aparente, a los cuales se les realizó una evaluación clínica y radiográfica de los tejidos periodontales y la determinación de ANCA a través del ensayo inmunoenzimatico indirecto (ELISA); utilizando kit comercial IMMCO Diagnostic® . Resultados: No se evidenciaron diferencias significativas en el índice promedio de gingivitis, placa y pérdida ósea entre el grupo experimental y control. No se observó correlación significativa entre gingivitis y ANCA. Sin embargo, en el grupo experimental 7 de 20 pacientes resultaron ANCA positivo. En contraste, el grupo control no reportó casos positivos (p<0.05 Test de Fisher). Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que la presencia de ANCA probablemente está relacionada con alteraciones inmunes presentes en pacientes con Leucemia y no con la gingivitis (AU)

Introduction: Systemic sicknesses can originate and proliferate alterations in the periodontium. The presence of Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) in patients suffering destructive periodontal disease and systemic illness has been widely proven. Objective: To determine the existent relation between gingivitis and ANCA in children and adolescents suffering from leukemia. These patients were examined at the Autonomous Services of the University Hospital in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and at the Hospital of Pediatrics Foundation in Zulia State, Venezuela. Materials and Methods: 40 patients ranging from 6 to 16 years of age were included in a controlled study. 20 patients suffering from acute leukemia constituted an experimental group, and 20 more patients without apparent systemic sickness who formed a control group. All 40 patients underwent clinical evaluation, and periodontal tissue radiographic evaluation and assessment of ANCA through an enzyme-linked immunoasorbent assay (ELISA); this was done using an IMMCO Diagnostic" commercial kit. Results: No Significant differences in the gingivitis average index, plaque and bone loss between the experimental and the control group were evidenced. A significant correlation between gingivitis and ANCA was not evidenced either. Nevertheless, 7 out of 20 patients of the experimental group turned out to be ANCA positive. In contrast, no positive cases were reported in the control group. (p<0.05 Fisher Test). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the presence of ANCA is probably related to on going immune alterations in patients suffering from leukemia but not related to gingivitis (AU)