Evaluation of Serum Anti-Cardiolipin and Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Levels in Chronic Periodontitis Patients With Essential Hypertension

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether chronic periodontitis caused the elevated levels of anti-cardiolipin antibodies (anti-CL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in subjects with essential hypertension.Seventy-two subjects were categorized as healthy controls, subjects with essential hypertension and periodontal health (healthy-hypertension group), subjects with essential hypertension and gingivitis (gingivitis-hypertension group), or subjects with essential hypertension and chronic periodontitis (periodontitis-hypertension group). Individuals with essential hypertension who had been taking antihypertensive medicationor =2 years were included in the present study. The presence of supragingival plaque, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level were recorded, and blood samples were collected. Serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-CL and oxLDL levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For IgM and IgG anti-CL assays, positive tests were defined asor =15 IgM phospholipid units andor =10 IgG phospholipid units, respectively.The mean IgM anti-CL level and the prevalence of subjects positive for IgM anti-CL were significantly higher in the periodontitis-hypertension group compared to the other groups (P = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the mean IgG anti-CL and oxLDL levels or in the number of subjects positive for IgG anti-CL and positive for IgM or IgG anti-CL among the study groups. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between IgM anti-CL levels and supragingival plaque, BOP, and PD scores.Chronic periodontitis might play a causal role in the elevated serum levels of anti-CL antibodies in individuals with essential hypertension. These elevated anti-CL levels that are due to chronic periodontitis might contribute to an increased risk for atherosclerosis in individuals with essential hypertension.