Randomized controlled trial of the effect of periodontal treatment on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in patients with stable coronary artery disease: Preliminary findings of 3months.

Abstract

To assess the effect of periodontal therapy (PT) on cardiovascular blood biomarkers. This single-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial included patients with stable coronary artery disease and periodontitis. The test group (TG) received non-surgical PT, whereas the control group (CG) received one session of plaque removal. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), glycated haemoglobin, lipids and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α) were measured at baseline and after 3months. Eighty-two patients (74.4% women, mean age 59.6years) were analysed. TG had significantly better periodontal parameters than CG after 3months, but no significant differences in blood markers were observed between them. In a post hoc subgroup analysis in patients with baseline CRP <3mg/L, a significant increase in CRP was observed in CG (1.44±0.82mg/L to 4.35±7.85mg/L, p=0.01), whereas CRP remained unchanged in TG (1.40±0.96mg/L to 1.33±1.26mg/L, p=0.85), resulting in a significant difference between groups at 3months. In patients with CRP ≥3mg/L, a significant reduction in CRP was observed only in TG (11.3±12.8mg/L to 5.7±4.1mg/L, p=0.04). Levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower in TG than CG at 3months. PT leads to lower levels of CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 in cardiovascular patients with high CRP levels.