ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess a suggested association between periodontitis
and renal insufficiency by assaying kidney disease markers. Methods: Variables used
to diagnose periodontitis were: (i) probing pocket depth (PPD), (ii) attachment loss
(AL), (iii) bleeding on probing (BOP), (iv) plaque index (PI) and (v) extent and severity
index. Blood and urine were collected from 60 apparently healthy non-smokers (men
and women), consisting of a test group of 30 subjects with periodontitis (age 46±6
yrs) and a control group of 30 healthy subjects (age 43±5 yrs). Kidney function markers
(urea, creatinine, uric acid and albumin contents) were measured in the serum and
urine. Also, the glomerular filtration rate was estimated from creatinine clearance,
from the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula and from the albumin
: creatinine ratio in a 24–h sample of urine. Results: It was found that the control
group had a greater mean number of teeth than the test group and that the two groups
also differed in PPD, AL, BOP and PI, all these variables being higher in the test
group (P=0.006). For the extent and severity index of both PPD and AL, the test group
had much higher medians of both extent and severity than the control group (P=0.001).
With regard to kidney function, none of the markers revealed a significant difference
between the control and test groups and all measured values fell within the reference
intervals. Conclusions: It is proposed that severe periodontitis is not associated
with any alteration in kidney function. (Eur J Dent 2011;5:8-18)
Key words:
Kidney function markers - Creatinine clearance - Albumin - Urea - Uric acid