Periodontal Infections Contribute to Elevated Systemic C-Reactive Protein Level

Background: Periodontitis is a local inflammatory process mediating destruction of periodontal tissues triggered by bacterial insult. However, this disease is also characterized by systemic inflammatory host responses that may contribute, in part, to the recently reported higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with periodontitis. Moderate elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) has been found to be a predictor of increased risk for CVD. Elevated CRP levels in periodontal patients have been reported by several groups. In this study, we examined whether CRP plasma levels are increased in periodontitis and if there is a relation to severity of periodontal disease and to the periodontal microflora. Methods: CRP serum levels were assessed using radial immunodiffusion assay in 174 subjects, 59 with moderate mean clinical attachment loss (AL) (2.39 ± 0.29 mm) and 50 with high AL (3.79 ± 0.86 mm) as compared to 65 periodontally healthy controls (AL, 1.74 ± 0.18 mm). Clinical attachment loss, pr...