IJE Advance Access originally published online on September 22, 2006
International Journal of Epidemiology 2006 35(6):1486-1494; doi:10.1093/ije/dyl166
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Article |
Serum antibody response to periodontal pathogens and herpes simplex virus in relation to classic risk factors of cardiovascular disease
1 Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
3 National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
4 Helsinki University Central Hospital, Division of Allergy, Helsinki, Finland.
5 Oral Microbiology, Department of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Umeå University, Sweden.
* Corresponding author: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, PO Box 63, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: pirkko.pussinen{at}helsinki.fi
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Abstract |
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Background Increasing evidence links chronic infections, especially burden of several infections, with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We studied joint immune response against two major periodontal pathogens and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in relation to established risk factors of CVD.
Methods Serum antibody levels to HSV, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were determined by ELISA. The study included 1107 subjects, 734 from Finland and 373 from Russia.
Results Combined antibody response to periodontal pathogens was associated inversely (OR, 95% CI) with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration (ß = 0.35; 0.20, 0.60; P < 0.001) and directly with HSV antibody quartiles: compared with the first quartile, ORs (95% CI) for quartiles 2–4 were 1.43 (0.88–2.32), 1.74 (1.07–2.82), and 1.89 (1.18–3.02), respectively (P for trend <0.001), after adjusting for age, gender, area, education, smoking, BMI, alcohol, triglycerides, and number of teeth. In linear regression analysis, the 3-pathogen antibody score (comprising antibody levels against periodontal pathogens and HSV) was inversely associated with HDL cholesterol concentration (ß = –0.067/1 mmol/l; –0.235, –0.018; P < 0.05).
Conclusions HSV infection may promote infection by periodontal pathogens. Furthermore, the infectious burden comprising HSV and periodontitis may increase the risk for CVD by clearly decreasing HDL cholesterol concentrations.
Keywords Periodontal infection, herpes simplex virus, periodontal pathogens, CVD, risk factors, infection burden
Accepted 5 July 2006