Research article

Effect of treating periodontitis on C-reactive protein levels: a pilot study

Kimmo Mattila¹ , Marja Vesanen² , Ville Valtonen¹ , Markku Nieminen¹ , Timo Palosuo³ , Vesa Rasi⁴ and Sirkka Asikainen²

¹Department of Medicine, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

²Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland

³National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

⁴Finnish Red Cross Blood Transfusion service, Helsinki, Finland

author email corresponding author email

BMC Infectious Diseases 2002, 2:30doi:10.1186/1471-2334-2-30

Published:	10 December 2002

Abstract

Background

Periodontitis is associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen and it may be a coronary heart disease risk factor. We wanted to study if treatment of periodontitis can decrease the levels of these inflammatory markers.

Methods

C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were measured in 35 patients (21 M, 14 F, mean age 50 years) with adult periodontitis, before and after treatment.

Results

The median baseline C-reactive protein level in the patients was 1.05 mg/l and it decreased to 0.7 mg/l (p = 0.05) after periodontal treatment. Of the 30 patients who could be included in the analyses, 24 patients had a baseline level below 2 mg/l (the 95^th percentile limit in Finland); 6 patients had levels higher than this. Elevation of the baseline C-reactive protein level or the magnitude of its decrease were not associated with severe form of periodontitis. The decrease in C-reactive protein levels was at least 50 % in 4/6 of those with elevated baseline levels, as compared with 3/24 of the rest of the patients (p = 0.016). No corresponding effect was observed in fibrinogen levels.

Conclusions

Periodontitis seems to increase C-reactive protein only in some individuals, presumably the ones reacting to it with a systemic inflammatory reaction. Periodontal treatment decreases C-reactive protein levels in these individuals and it may thus decrease their risk of coronary heart disease.