Non-surgical periodontal therapy lowers serum inflammatory markers: a pilot study.

Background: Evidence suggests an association between periodontal disease and coronary heart disease (CHD). C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and white blood cell (WBC) counts are markers of inflammation, and their systemic levels have been associated with CHD risk. This pilot study investigated the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on systemic levels of CRP, fibrinogen, and WBC counts in subjects with CHD or no CHD (NCHD).

Methods: Twenty-seven angiographically defined patients with CHD and 18 subjects with NCHD aged >or=40 years were recruited for the study. Periodontal disease was measured through the clinical parameters bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD). All subjects received non-surgical periodontal therapy that included oral hygiene instructions and subgingival scaling and root planing. Systemic levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, fibrinogen, and WBC counts) were measured prior to and 1 month after periodontal therapy.

Results: Seventeen subjects with CHD and 11 subjects with NCHD completed the study. Subjects with CHD or NCHD experienced significant reductions in BOP (59% and 34%, respectively; P <0.05) and PD (41% and 35%, respectively; P <0.05), with non-significant intergroup differences (P >0.05). In all subjects, CRP, fibrinogen, and WBC counts were reduced significantly (21% to 40%) after periodontal therapy (P <0.05).

Conclusions: Periodontal treatment resulted in significant decreases in BOP and PD and lowered serum inflammatory markers in patients with CHD or NCHD. This may result in a decreased risk for CHD in the treated patients. These findings will allow pursuit of a large-scale randomized intervention trial in this population.