Presence of Tannerella forsythia in patients with chronic periodontal disease and atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background/Aim. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory

disease that occur in the tissues surrounding the teeth in re- sponse to bacterial biofilm accumulation (dental plaque).

Among others, Tannerela forsythia (Tf) was recognized as one

of the most significant and specific bacterial species in peri- odontal pocket („red complex“ bacteria). Atherosclerosis is

a progressive narrowing of arteries that may lead to occlu- sion, as a consequence of lipid deposition. It underlies co- ronary heart disease (80%), as well as myocardial and cere- bral infarctions. Increasing evidence over the past decade

suggests a link between periodontal disease and atheroscle- rosis, where Tf can enter the systemic circulation directly or

indirectly, and be present in atherosclerotic blood vessels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect the presence of Tf in atheromatous plaques obtained from different

blood vessels in patients with chronic periodontitis. Meth- ods. Ninety patients (male 61, female 29) with periodontal

disease and atherosclerosis [recruited for either carotid ar- tery stenosis requiring endartectomy or percutaneous trans- luminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)] were included in this

study. Clinical periodontal examinations consisted of plaque

index (PI) (according to Silness Lӧu), gingival index (GI) (according to Lӧe Silnes), sulcus bleeding index (according to Mühleman-Son) and periodontal probing depth (PPD). Presence of Tf in periodontal pockets and atherosclerotic vessels was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method with positive control Tf ATCC 43037. Results. Tf

was present in subgingival plaques of 68 (75.6%) of the pa- tients, while its presence in atheromatous plaques were reg- istered in 42 (53.3%) of the patients. It was significantly pre- sent in coronary blood vessels (41.7%), followed by carotid

arteries (35.4%) and a. abdominalis aneurism (12.5%), a. mamaria (8.5%) and a. femoralis (2.1%) while in a. iliaca Tf was not detected at all. Conclusion. The present study suggests strong relationship between periodontal inflammation and atherogenesis; therefore, it should be considered as potential

risk factor for atherosclerosis. Accordingly, it would be nec- essary to control periodontal disease in order to reduce

mortality and morbidity associated with atherosclerosis.