Evaluation of serum anti-Cardiolipin antibody, hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in chronic periodontitis as possible risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Abstract EN

Background : It has long been established that there is an association between cardiovascular disease and periodontitis.

Evidence shows periodontally infected patients may be at a higher risk of thrombotic accidents via induced systemic inflammatory mediators’ production and increase in serum levels of autoantibodies such as anti- cardiolipin antibody.

The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of anti-cardiolipin antibody (ACLA)-IgG and -IgM, and to investigate the systemic levels of inflammatory markers of cardiovascular diseases like high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with chronic periodontitisin (CP) as well as to examine the relationships between these mediators and clinical periodontal parameters. Subjects and Methods : Blood samples were collected from 45 patients with CP (20 with sever periodontitis and 25 with moderate periodontitis) and from 30 healthy age matched individuals served as controls.

Clinical periodontal parameters used in this study were plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing.

The levels of serum ACLA-IgG, ACLA-IgM, hs-CRP and IL-6 were determined using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assays. Results : The current results revealed that serum levels of ACLA-IgG, hs-CRP and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients group as compared to healthy control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001), whereas the serum level ACLA-IgM was not observed any significant differences between two groups (p > 0.05).

Concerning the comparison between two patient groups, sever CP group showed significant elevation in serum levels of ACLA-IgG, hs-CRP and IL-6 (p < 0.05, p < 0.001), while there is no differences in serum level of ACLA-IgM when compared to moderate CP patients group (p > 0.05).

Furthermore, in regards to the correlation between serum ACLA-IgG, ACLA-IgM, hs-CRP and IL-6, and clinical periodontal parameters, IL-6 level was showed significant positive correlation with clinical attachment level, whereas hs-CRP was showed significant positive correlation with each of probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing.

Moreover; linear positive correlation was noticed between ACLA-IgG and clinical attachment level.

Conversely, ACLA-IgM level did not show any correlation with clinical parameters of periodontitis (p > 0.05). Conclusion : Elevation in prothrombotic autoantibodies, ACLA-IgG and inflammatory mediators (hs-CRP and IL-6) factors may increase inflammatory activity in atherosclerotic lesions and potentially increasing the risk for cardiovascular events.