Serum antibody response to periodontal pathogens and herpes simplex virus in relation to classic risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Background: Increasing evidence links chronic infections, especially burden of several infections, with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We studied joint immune response against two major periodontal pathogens and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in relation to established risk factors of CVD.

Methods: Serum antibody levels to HSV, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were determined by ELISA.

Periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis increase the risk for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Objectives: To determine whether periodontal disease or bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosed before pregnancy increase the risk for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Methods: We enrolled a total of 252 women who had discontinued contraception in order to become pregnant. The first 130 pregnant women were included in the analyses.

Severe periodontitis enhances macrophage activation via increased serum lipopolysaccharide.

Objective: In periodontitis, overgrowth of Gram-negative bacteria and access of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to circulation may activate macrophages leading to foam cell formation. We investigated whether periodontal treatment affects proatherogenic properties of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and, thus, macrophage activation.

Methods And Results: LDL was isolated and characterized before and after treatment from 30 systemically healthy patients with periodontitis.

Periodontitis decreases the antiatherogenic potency of high density lipoprotein.

Periodontitis, a consequence of persistent bacterial infection and chronic inflammation, has been suggested to predict coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of periodontitis on HDL structure and antiatherogenic function in cholesterol efflux in vitro. HDL was isolated from 30 patients (age 43.

Antigenically diverse reference strains and autologous strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans are equally efficient antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a major pathogen in periodontitis. Data on the clinical relevance of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels against this species are controversial. The aim of the present study was to elucidate how different strains used as antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) influence the detection of individuals with elevated serum IgG levels against A.