Background and aims: Observational studies support an association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases. The study objective was to assess vascular inflammation after periodontal treatment in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Methods: Ninety patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and severe periodontitis were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial. Thirty patients underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy and received additional systemic antibiotics (PT1 group), while 30 patients received the same therapy without antibiotics (PT2 group). The remaining thirty patients did not receive periodontal therapy (CG, control group). The primary outcome of this treatment was a reduction in vascular inflammation three months after periodontal treatment as determined by 18F-FDG PET/CT values. Secondary outcomes were changes in the inflamed periodontal surface area (PISA) and other periodontal parameters, changes in vascular biomarkers, and adverse cardiovascular events.
Results: After three months of treatment, a significant improvement in periodontal health was observed in the treatment groups. However, no difference in the primary outcome in the aorta was observed in the three study groups (median target to background ratio follow-up/baseline, PT1 1.00; 95% CI 0.97-1.10, PT2 1.00; 95% CI 0.98-1.1, CG 1.1; 95% CI 0.99-1.1, p = 0.75). No significant differences were detected in most diseased segments and active segments. In addition, no differences were observed in 18F-FDG uptake in the carotid, iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries. No differences with regard to relative changes in vascular biomarkers were noted, and no serious cardiovascular adverse events occurred.
Conclusions: Periodontal treatment was effective and safe but did not reduce vascular inflammation in patients with PAD.
Keywords: (18)F-FDG PET/CT; Imaging; Nuclear medicine; Periodontitis; Peripheral arterial disease.
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