Effect of treatment of chronic periodontitis on levels of serum markers of acute-phase inflammatory and vascular responses

Aims: Recent epidemiological work suggests an association between periodontal disease severity and cardiovascular disease risk. This study aimed to ascertain if circulating levels of cardiovascular and systemic inflammatory markers could be modified following treatment of periodontal disease. Method: Adult subjects were recruited from those awaiting periodontal treatment and randomised to either immediate (test, n = 24) or delayed treatment (control, n = 15). Demographic and clinical data were collected and venous blood was taken before and either 6 weeks after completion of treatment or after an equivalent 3-month control period. Periodontal examination included probing depth, loss of attachment, plaque scores and bleeding scores. Blood was analysed to determine serum and plasma fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, sialic acid, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin -6 and -1beta. Effects of treatment were assessed by paired tests and analysis of variance by treatment group with baseline covariates. Results: Treatment improved plaque and bleeding scores and reduced probing depths (p < 0.002). However, there were no statistically significant changes in levels of any of the systemic markers. Conclusion: Improvement in periodontal health did not influence the levels of vascular markers.