During the last decade, a number of studies have shown an association between periodontitis and heart disease. The nature of this association is not clear. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyse plasma, from patients with severe chronic periodontitis and a matched periodontally healthy control group, for risk markers of atherosclerosis. Neither patients nor controls had any known heart disease. Method: Venous blood was collected in EDTA-tubes and the plasma was analysed for cholesterol, HDL, CRP, haptoglobin, a-1-antitrypsin, heat-chock protein 65, antibodies against leukotoxin from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, IL-6 and TNF-R1. Besides the plasma analyses, were blood status, body mass index and blood pressure registered. The cardiac health was assessed with an electrocardiogram. Results: The patients had a higher CRP, TNF a -R1 and IL-6. The electrocardiogram of the patients showed a lower working capacity, expressed as a percentage of the expected, compared to the control group. No correlation between plasma variables and clinical status, i.e. bleeding on probing and probing pocket depth, could be found in the patient group. When comparing only non-smokers, the differences generally decreased and when comparing smokers alone the differences between patients and controls increased. Conclusion: This preliminary report suggests that there are differences between patients and controls regarding CRP, TNF a -R1 and IL-6. Anders.Gustafsson@ofa.ki.se

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