Detection of Porphyromonas Gingivalis (Fima) In Coronary Plaque
2607-2613
Correspondence
Jaideep Mahendra, MDS., Ph.D., PGDHM.,
X-1/1-2 SAF Games Village,
Koyambedu, Chennai-600 107,
Tamil Nadu, India
Mobile No. +91- 9444963973
Fax No. +91-44-24343205
email: jaideep_m_23@yahoo.co.in
Background: Recent studies indicate that chronic bacterial infections are an important risk factor for coronary artery disease. The inflammation initiated by bacteria and their components might be the common causal factor in the progression of atherosclerosis. The ability of oral pathogens to colonize in the coronary atherosclerotic plaque is well known.
Aims: The aim of this study was to detect the presence of the periodontal oral pathogens; namely, Porphyromonas gingivalis (fimA) gene, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Prevotella nigrescens in the atherosclerotic plaque samples of the patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
Settings and Design : The study population consisted of 51 patients with chronic periodontal infection in the age group of 40 to 80 years and were recruited consecutively from the institute of Cardiovascular disease, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai. These patients were suffering from Coronary Artery Disease and were undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
Methods and Materials: DNA was extracted from the subgingival plaque and from the coronary atherosclerotic plaque samples from the same patients. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the part of the 16S rRNA gene to detect the presence of the above microorganisms.
Statistical Analysis: Kappa Measures of Agreement, Percentage Prevalence
Results: Bacterial DNA was detected in all the samples of subgingival and atherosclerotic plaques. Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis (fimA) gene and Prevotella nigrescens were detected in 31.4%, 45.1%, 39.2% and 21.6% of atherosclerotic plaque samples. In both subgingival plaque and coronary atherosclerotic plaque samples, T. forsythia was detected in 19.6%, P.gingivalis in 39.2%, P.gingivalis (fimA) gene in 33.3% and P. nigrescens in 15.7% of the samples. 11.8 % of T.forsythia, 5.9% of P.gingivalis, 5.9% of the P.gingivalis (fimA) gene and 5.9 % of P.nigrescens were found only in coronary plaques without the presence of these microorganisms in subgingival plaques.
Conclusion: Our study confirmed the detection of the DNA of the above microorganisms in coronary plaque samples. This may explain that the inflammation in the oral cavity triggers and influences the atherosclerotic process.