Evaluation of the periodontal viruses in cardiovascular patients associated with periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed in evaluating the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in periodontitis and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) patients to compare with their healthy controls and insist their significance in the same. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and forty patients were divided into 4 groups. Non-periodontitis+non-cardiac (NP+NC) = 60 patients, periodontitis+non-cardiac patients (P+NC) = 60 patients, non-periodontitis+cardiac patients (NP+C) = 60 patients, and periodontitis+cardiac (P+C) = 60 patients. Demographic variables, cardiac and periodontal parameters were recorded. EBV, CMV, and HSV were evaluated in the subgingival plaque samples using RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) and compared between the groups. The results were statistically analyzed using Student's t-test, Pearson's chi-square, Turkey post hoc analysis, and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The demographic variables did not differ significantly between the groups, except for age. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, and random blood sugar were significantly higher in NP+C and P+C (p </= 0.05). The plaque index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss (p </= 0.05) were significantly higher in P+NC and P+C. EBV and CMV were significantly higher in the two periodontitis groups P+NC and P+C (p-value = 0.000). HSV was significantly higher in the two cardiac groups (NP+C and P+C) (p</=0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between EBV and CAL (p </= 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that higher prevalence of EBV and CMV was found in groups with periodontitis patients. This indicates the significant role of the viruses in periodontitis as confirmed by association between EBV and CAL. The viruses were said to be highest in periodontitis patients with CAD. This could pave a new link in the risk of CAD in periodontitis patients.