engleski

Arterial elastic properties in chronic periodontitis patients

The exposure to chronic inflammation, such as periodontal disease, is recognized as a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between carotid arterial stiffness indices and periodontal condition, compared to the periodontally healthy subjects. The study was conducted on 23 patients with untreated chronic periodontitis (test group, 11 men and 12 women, mean age 57.4 ± 10.6 years) and 20 periodontally healthy volunteers (control group, 8 men and 12 women, mean age 59.3 ± 8.6 years). Periodontal condition was assessed in terms of clinical attachment level. Arterial stiffness measurements on common carotid artery (CCA) were performed using Aloka ProSound ALPHA 10 with 13 MHz linear probe. In comparison with the control group, test group showed statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean beta stiffness (13.43 ± 5.89) and arterial diameter changes (0.41 ± 0.12) when measured on left CCA, and in arterial diameter changes (0.42 ± 0.22) when measured on right CCA. The differences regarding intima media thickness, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index and elastic modulus were also found among groups, but without statistical significance. Our results demonstrate that inflammatory periodontal disease may affect carotid arterial haemodynamics, regardless alterations of intima media thickness. Further studies with a larger patient sample are required in order to more precisely assess the influence of periodontitis on carotid arterial stiffness properties.

chronic periodontitis; vascular elasticity; ultrasound

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051x-2012.01890_1.x