Evaluation of Association between CRP Levels in Chronic Periodontitis patients and Chronic Periodontitis with Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increases to hundreds of mg/L within hours following infection. Studies have shown that serum CRP levels were elevated in periodontal disease. Numerous cross-sectional studies have suggested that chronic periodontitis is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is evidence that periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases are linked by inflammatory factors including C-reactive protein. The purpose of the study was to investigate the levels of CRP as a marker of inflammatory host response in the serum of chronic periodontitis patients and in patients with CVD. Materials and Methods: Study population included 75 patients; both male and female above 40 years of age were included for the study. Based on clinical (probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm) and radiolographical findings (bone loss more than 5mm from CEJ (cementoenamel junction) and presence or absence of CVD. The study population were divided into three groups of 25 each, Group I: Chronic periodontitis patients with CVD, Group II: Chronic periodontitis patients without CVD and Group III: Control (without chronic periodontitis and CVD). The control
group had PD ≤ 3 mm and no CVD. Venous blood was collected from the patients and C-reactive protein levels were analyzed by latex slide agglutination method using commercially available kit with lower detection limit of 10 mg/L. Results: On comparison, CRP values showed significant difference from Group I to III. CRP level was highly significant in Group I when compared with Group II and Group III. Conclusion: From this study we can conclude that chronic periodontitis patients, with increased CRP levels are more prone to CVD