Prevotella nigrescens and Porphyromonas gingivalis are associated with signs of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with and without periodontitis

• Published in: Journal of periodontal research Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 749 - 755
• Main Authors: Yakob, M., Söder, B., Meurman, J. H., Jogestrand, T., Nowak, J., Söder, P.-Ö.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2011; Blackwell
• Subjects: atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atherosclerosis - complications; Atherosclerosis - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Carotid Artery Diseases - complications; Carotid Artery Diseases - microbiology; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Common - microbiology; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Carotid Stenosis - microbiology; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; P. gingivalis; P. nigrescens; periodontal microorganisms; periodontitis; Periodontitis - complications; Porphyromonas gingivalis - isolation & purification; Prevotella nigrescens - isolation & purification; Risk Factors; Human; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Stomatology; Cardiovascular disease; P. nigrescens; Bacteroidaceae; Vascular disease; P. gingivalis; Periodontal disease; Periodontitis; Carotid; Atherosclerosis; Prevotella nigrescens; Bacteria; Microorganism; periodontal microorganisms
• ISSN: 0022-3484; 1600-0765; 1600-0765
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2011.01398.x

Yakob M, Söder B, Meurman JH, Jogestrand T, Nowak J, Söder P.‐Ö. Prevotella nigrescens and Porphyromonas gingivalis are associated with signs of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with and without periodontitis. J Periodont Res 2011; 46: 749–755. ©2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective:  Oral microorganisms may be involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases, and Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the periodontal microorganisms that has been found in carotid atheroma. The aim of this work was to study subgingival microorganisms and early carotid lesions in subjects with and without periodontitis. Material and Methods:  Eighty‐eight subjects with periodontitis and 40 subjects without periodontitis underwent dental examinations in 2003. The presence of the periodontal microorganisms Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens and Tannerella forsythia was analyzed from subgingival plaque using PCR amplification. The common carotid artery was scanned using ultrasound and the calculated intima‐media area (cIMA) was measured. The association between periodontitis, the cIMA value and the presence of periodontal microorganisms, together with several confounders, was studied in a multiple logistic regression model. Results:  Smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 5.64; p = 0.001), level of education (OR = 5.02; p < 0.05) and the presence of P. gingivalis (OR = 6.50; p < 0.05) were associated with periodontitis. Explanatory factors for the increased cIMA were periodontitis (OR = 4.22; p < 0.05), hypertension (OR = 4.81; p < 0.05), high body mass index (OR = 5.78; p < 0.01), male gender (OR = 3.30; p < 0.05) and poor socioeconomic status (OR = 4.34; p < 0.05). P. nigrescens (OR 4.08; p < 0.05) and P. gingivalis (OR 7.63; p < 0.01) also appeared as explanatory variables associated with increased cIMA values. Conclusion:  This cross‐sectional study showed that P. nigrescens and P. gingivalis were significantly associated with increased cIMA values.