The Periodontal-Cardiovascular alliance: Evaluation of miRNA-146a in subgingival plaque samples of chronic periodontitis patients with and without coronary heart disease.

Aim: To quantify the levels of miRNA-146a in subgingival plaque samples, and correlate with periodontal and cardiac parameters, in chronic periodontitis patients with and without coronary heart disease.

Methods: The study involved 90 subjects; 30 patients with chronic periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CP + CHD) as part of Group I; group II comprising 30 with chronic periodontitis alone (CP); and group III comprising 30 systemically healthy controls. Demographic variables, periodontal parameters such as plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment levels, cardiac parameters such as total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride levels, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded from the patients.