Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Periodontitis and Its Improvement After Initial Periodontal Therapy

Background: Recent epidemiological data suggested that there is a relationship between periodontal health and atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Although hypothetical models were proposed, the exact mechanism of this association has not been clarified. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is an endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic periodontitis and, if present, whether recovery is possible with therapy. Methods: The study groups consisted of 28 patients (mean age: 45.5 ± 8.6 years) with chronic periodontitis and without any atherosclerotic vascular disease, and 26 healthy controls (mean age: 43.7 ± 6.8 years). Cardiovascular risk factors were investigated in both groups. Brachial artery responses to reactive hyperemia (endothelium‐dependent dilatation [EDD]) and sublingual nitroglycerin (endothelium‐independent dilatation [EID]) were measured using high‐resolution vascular ultrasound in both groups. Measurements were taken before and after initial periodontal therapy in the periodontal patients. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to cardiovascular risk factors. In the baseline measurements, EDD and EID were significantly impaired in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with the controls (8.4% ± 4.0% versus 19.4% ± 8.1%, P