from Journal of Endodontics
Volume 37, Issue 12 , Pages 1624-1629, December 2011
Abstract
Introduction
Dental infections might
predispose toward the onset of cardiovascular d
isease (CVD). To date,
only a few studies, yielding inconclusive findings, have investigated
the potential correlation between apical periodontitis (AP) and CVD. The
aim of this study (as the first part of a prospective study) was to
evaluate, in the absence of CV risk factors, whether subjects
with AP
were more exposed to the pathogenetic indices of an atherosclerotic
lesion.
Methods
Forty men between the ages of 20 and 40 years
who were free from periodontal disease, CVD, and traditional CV risk
factors were enrolled in the study; 20 subjects had AP, and 20 acted as
controls. All subjects underwent dental examination and complete cardiac
assessment: physical examination,electrocardiogram,conventional and
tissue Doppler echocardiography, and measurement of endothelial flow
reserve (EFR). The following laboratory parameters were tested:
interleukins -1, -2, and -6 (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6), tumor necrosis factor
alpha, and asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA). Data were analyzed by
using the 2-tailed Student’s t test, Pearson t test (or Spearman t test for nonparametric variables), and multivariate linear regression analysis.
Results
Echocardiography revealed no abnormalities in any of the subjects studied. ADMA levels were inversely correlated with EFR (P < .05) and directly correlated with IL-2 (P < .001). Patients with AP presented with significantly greater blood concentrations of IL-1 (P < .05), IL-2 (P < .01), IL-6 (P < .05), and ADMA (P < .05) and a significant reduction of EFR (P < .05).
Conclusions
Increased
ADMA levels and their relationship with poor EFR and increased IL-2
might suggest the existence of an early endothelial dysfunction in young
adults with AP.
