Public Health Implications of Chronic Periodontal Infections in Adults
The Inflammatory Link between Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Diseases
Thomas Van
Dyke, DDS, PhD, Professor, Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology,
Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Recently identified associations between periodontal disease and other
systemic inflammatory diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, have
captured the attention of oral health professionals. Recent work
in animal models suggests that there may be a cause-effect relationship
between periodontal disease and cardiovascular lesions. New technology has
been developed to control inflammation in periodontal disease with the aim
of preventing periodontal disease from progressing.
Naturally occurring novel lipid compounds have been identified; they are
responsible for the natural resolution of an inflammatory lesion. These
compounds, called lipoxins, act on specific inflammatory cells through
specific receptors that result in down regulation of inflammatory cell
function. Proof-of-principle experiments involving animals
have demonstrated that topical application of stable lipoxin analogs are
effective in preventing the onset of gingivitis and periodontitis. Further
experiments investigating the relationship between periodontal disease and
cardiovascular disease were carried out to determine the effect of lipoxins
on the progression of both conditions. Results revealed that lipoxins were
effective in preventing both periodontitis and cardiovascular lesions in
the same animal.
These data suggest that a relationship exists between periodontitis and
the initiation of atherosclerosis and that anti-inflammatory therapy using
lipoxins was effective in preventing the onset of both
diseases. Lipoxins and their analogs are safe, nontoxic, and readily
absorbed with topical application.
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Historical Document
Page last reviewed: February 2, 2005
Content source:
Division of Oral Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
