A BLOOD TEST MAY REVEAL SYSTEMIC FACTORS
THAT
RELATE TO PERIODONTAL DISEASE, ESPECIALLY IN MEN
CHICAGO (January 22, 2004) – A blood test
is often given during a medical checkup to reveal indicators of
general health conditions. In a study reported in the most recent
issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), Japanese researchers
found that a blood test may also reveal indicators of periodontal
diseases.
Researchers examined and measured the oral health of 7,452 men
and women, and tested their blood for 37 items used in general
blood tests. Some of the items tested for in the blood include
cholesterol and C-reactive protein, commonly linked to heart disease;
and diabetes. The results of the blood tests were compared against
the oral health scores of the participants.
“In this study we found that generally if the blood was
“healthy,” the oral health was also healthy. Conversely,
if the blood test detected certain “red flags,” the
person also had serious symptoms of periodontal diseases,”
said Dr. Yuko Takami, Department of Preventive Dentistry and Dental
Public Health, School of Dentistry, AichiGakuin University, Japan.
“We also found that males were reported to have more serious
symptoms of periodontal diseases than females of the same age
group,”
“These findings mean that in the future when patients visit
their medical doctors for a routine check-up and annual blood
work, they may also be referred to a periodontist for a periodontal
screening if the blood indicates systemic abnormalities,”
said Michael P. Rethman, D.D.S., M.S., and president of the American
Academy of Periodontology. The only item from the blood test that
showed a significant relationship with periodontal diseases in
women was CRP. A specific reason could not be pinpointed as to
why men were reported to have more serious symptoms of periodontal
diseases than women. One reason could be that men and women have
different endocrine situations, and periodontal diseases are influenced
by endocrine conditions.
“With each study that looks at the association between systemic
and periodontal diseases, we learn more about the CRP correlation,”
said Rethman. “Another study in this JOP issue reinforces
previous studies indicating a relationship between CRP elevation
and periodontitis.”
In a study from the August JOP, CRP values were compared before
and after treatment. Researchers found that the CRP values significantly
decreased after periodontal treatment.
“Since the treatment of periodontitis in this study appears
to be effective in reducing levels of CRP, patients at risk for
coronary heart disease may want to visit a periodontist to control
their periodontitis,” said Rethman.
Blood Test Values and CPI Scores in Medical Checkup Recipient
Study Findings
This study investigated correlations between the blood test values
of people who had general medical checkups and their community
periodontal index score (CPI). CPI represents periodontal disease
indicators in order to clarify how periodontal diseases relate
to systemic conditions. The study included 7,452 people and divided
them by age and gender. CPI scores were listed as 0, 1, 2, 3 and
4 to indicate, respectively, the following conditions: healthy,
bleeding after probing, dental calculus detected by probing, 4-
to 5-mm deep pockets and >6-mm deep pockets. A total of 37
items were tested in the blood, some of which include C-reactive
protein (CRP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), white
blood count (WBC) and blood sugar (BS).
Comparisons were then made between blood test values higher than
the standard range and the standard values for CPI scores of 3
and 4.
A free brochure titled Ask Your Periodontist About Periodontal
Disease and Heart Disease is available by calling 1-800-FLOSS-EM
or using the AAP’s online request form. The AAP’s
Web site (www.perio.org) can provide more information and a referral
to a nearby periodontist.
The AAP was established in 1914 and focuses on the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting
structures of the teeth and in the placement and maintenance of
dental implants.
**EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the reports published in the Journal
of Periodontology’s titled “Blood Test Values and
CPI Scores in Medical Checkup Recipients,” “Association
Between Alveolar Bone Loss and Elevated Serum C-Reactive Protein
in Japanese Men” and Antimicrobial Periodontal Treatment
Decreases Serum C-Reactive Protein, Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha,
But Not Adiponectin Levels in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis”
are available by calling Amy Duff at 312/573-3244.