Deep periodontal pockets linked with ECG abnormalities
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Posted July 1, 2004 |
Patients with deep periodontal pockets have an increased risk for electrocardiographic abnormalities, suggesting a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new study results.
Dental researchers from Kyushu University in Japan examined the oral and general health of 1,111 subjects including 957 who had at least ten teeth and did not have a history of cardiovascular disease.
They found that subjects with deep periodontal pockets with a mean probing depth greater than 2 millimeters had an increased risk for electrocardiographic, or ECG, abnormalities as compared to subjects with pockets less than 2 millimeters. They also found that subjects with attachment loss greater than 2.5 millimeters had a significant risk for ECG abnormalities.
Elevated levels of the inflammatory compounds C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and neutrophils associated with periodontitis may cause inflammatory changes to atherosclerotic lesions, increasing the risk of cardiac events, the researchers concluded.
"Considering these results, the relationship between periodontitis and ECG abnormalities observed in this study suggests a relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease," said lead researcher Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki.
The full results of the study are published in the June issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
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