Background/purpose: There is evidence supporting an association between ischemic stroke and periodontitis in western countries. Differing genetic backgrounds and lifestyles among populations may affect this association. The aim of our study was to determine whether antibody titers to Porphyromonas gingivalis are associated with acute cerebral infarction in the Chinese population.
Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 88 acute cerebral infarction patients and 40 healthy control subjects. Serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) antibody to P. gingivalis was analyzed by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. Serum lipids were determined with the automatic biochemical analyzer. Fibrinogen was measured using automated coagulation analyzer. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantified using commercial ELISA kits. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries (IMT-CCA) was measured by ultrasonography.
Results: The results showed that P. gingivalis IgG antibody levels were significantly higher in acute cerebral infarction cases than in healthy controls (mean ± standard deviation, 11.06 ± 1.49 vs. 9.15 ± 1.70, P < 0.001). There were significant correlations of P. gingivalis IgG titer with total cholesterol (r = 0.34, P = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.39, P < 0.001), apolipoprotein-B (r = 0.30, P = 0.004), hs-CRP (r = 0.35, P = 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.27, P = 0.011), and IMT-CCA (left: r = 0.306, P = 0.004; right: r = 0.241, P = 0.024).
Conclusion: Antibody titers to P. gingivalis are associated with acute cerebral infarction in the Chinese population.
Keywords: Antibody; Porphyromonas gingivalis; cerebral infarction; periodontitis.