Levels of Inflammatory Markers in Subjects with Periodontitis and Atherosclerosis

Objectives: The aim was to assess levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cholesterol in gender and age matched women and men with chronic periodontitis and early carotid lesions. Methods: We examined 130 age-and gender matched subjects, 89 with chronic periodontitis (45 women and 44 men), and early atherosclerosis and in 41 without chronic periodontitis (21 women and 20 men). Periodontal parameters and inflammatory markers hsCRP, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and total cholesterol, HDL-and LDL- cholesterol, fibrinogen, triglycerides were determined in plasma. Multiple logistic regression, ANOVA and chi-square test were used for analyses. Results: Serum hsCRP values were <1.0 mg/L in women with chronic periodontitis and early atherosclerotic lesions The mean values of hsCRP (3.5 mg/L) were significantly higher in men with chronic periodontitis and early atherosclerotic lesions when compared to women (p<0.05). Significant difference was found in levels of HDL-cholesterol between women (1.66±0.39SD) mmol/L and men (1.23±SD)mmol/L (p< 0.001). No significant difference was found for IL-6, and total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, fibrinogen, triglycerides between women and men. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified age as an independent predictor of hsCRP in women (OR =3.26, p=0.047), and chronic periodontitis (OR=6.34, p=0.023) and age (OR=4.34, p<.036) in men. Conclusions: Women with chronic periodontitis may be at risk for future cardiovascular disease due to the significantly increased carotid intima-media (IMT) even though their hs-CRP concentrations are less than 1 mg/L.

Acknowledgements: Supported by the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Grants from the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, the AFA Insurance, Sweden. Sunstar Foundation for Oral Health Promotion, Osaka, Japan. Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation Helsinki, and by grant TI020Y0003 by the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.