Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Patient with chronic periodontitis (CP), especially those with its advanced forms, have higher cardiovascular risk compared to those with healthy periodontium. They are also characterized by higher hs-CRP levels, greater left ventricular mass, greater intima-media thickness. Adiponectin, a hormone excreted by fat tissue, is involved in insulin sensitivity regulation and in atherosclerotic processes. The aim of the study was to assess a relationship between chronic periodontitis and serum adiponectin concentration in patients with primary hypertension.

Material and methods: Two groups of patients were included into the study: 28 patients with no or only moderate CP (Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Risk–CPITN – score =0–2, mean age 49.6±5.9 years, BMI 30.6±5.2 kg/m²), and 25 patients with advanced CP (CPITN score 3–4, mean age 50.9±4.5 years, BMI 28.6±3.1 kg/m²). In both groups other than periodontium potential sources of infection were carefully excluded. Serum adiponectin concentration was assessed by EIA (Alpco Diagnostics). Mann–Whitney test was used for between groups comparison, and Spearman rank test for correlation assessment.

Results: Serum adiponectin concentration did not differ between CPITN 0–2 and CPITN 3–4 groups (12.4±5.0 μg/ml vs 12.2±3.9 μg/ml), the same was true for serum hsCRP level (2.99±3.89 mg/ml vs 2.14±2.33 mg/ml, respectively). No significant correlation between adiponectin concentration and mean or maximal CPITN score was shown. There was also no correlation between adiponectin and hsCRP levels.

Conclusion: From those preliminary results one can conclude that there is no relationship between serum adiponectin concentration and inflammatory process of periodontal tissue. However, a small number of included patient and no difference between hs-CRP level between the groups limit power of the study.