CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS, A SILENT HAZARDOUS DISEASE.

Background: Chronic periodontitis is a common disease, which occurs as an outcome of tooth supporting tissue's inflammation (periodontal ligament and gums), initiated by the exposure of the periodontium to dental plaque. By the action of various toxic products liberated from pathogenic plaque bacteria there is periodontal destruction, as well as hosts inflammatory responses elicited against plaque bacteria and their products. Inflammatory processes can be considered as the most essential functional part of pathophysiology of atherosclerosis resulting in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated levels of C – reactive Protein (CRP) have been associated with CVD and regarded as independent determinant of atherosclerosis. This study has been carried out to assess the possible relationship between chronic periodontitis and CVD determinants. Subjects and Methods: This cross sectional study involved a total of 100 subjects including 50 chronic periodontitis patients and 50 healthy controls between the ages of 35 – 40 years. The patients were obtained from de-Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore. A detailed personal history, past medical and dental history was taken. Patients of chronic periodontitis were selected using Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Blood sample were drawn and CRP was measured by using standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. These parameters were compared in chronic periodontitis patients with age and gender matched healthy controls, to observe the significance of difference. Results: The results of this study showed that serum CRP which was a strong independent risk marker of CVD is statistically significantly elevated in chronic periodontitis patients as compared with age and gender matched healthy controls. The correlation between serum CRP and severity of chronic periodontitis was also highly significant. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that elevated CRP in chronic periodontitis patients may predispose them to the development of early atherosclerosis. Because of the significant association of elevated inflammatory mediators with CVD, their determination may help to improve the prediction and prevention of CVD in chronic periodontitis patients as well as these results is expected to bring awareness in people about oral hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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