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.