Gum disease and stroke link

Main Category: Stroke
Article Date: 17 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PST


Gum diseases, Gingivitis and periodontitis may increase the risk of stroke, new research suggests.

A study published in Stroke examined whether periodontal disease, is independently associated with cerebral ischaemia.

Three hindred and three patients were examined within 7 days after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

All participants underwent clinical and radiographic dental examinations. The team used the individual mean clinical attachment loss measured at four sites per tooth as the primary indicator for periodontitis.

After adjustment for age, sex, number of teeth, and other factors, the risk of cerebral ischemia increased with increasing severity of periodontitis.

Subjects with severe periodontitis had a 4.3-fold increased risk of cerebral ischemia than those with mild or no periodontitis.

'Active periodontal inflammation may contribute to a prothrombotic state via recurrent bacteremia, platelet activation, and elevated clotting factors, thereby increasing the risk of cardioembolism and cryptogenic stroke,' say the authors.

'Gingivitis and periodontitis are treatable and preventable conditions. Therefore, their identification as stroke risk factors that require further studies would have a major impact on stroke prevention.,' they conclude.

Reference: Stroke 2004 35 (496-501)

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