Effect of periodontal treatment on reducing chronic inflammation in systemically healthy patients with periodontal disease: a multicenter study

BACKGROUNDWe determined the effects and an accurate marker of periodontal treatment on serum interleukin (IL)-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels in systemically healthy individuals with periodontal disease.METHODSThis multicenter study included systemically healthy individuals with periodontal disease who received initial periodontal treatment and had no periodontal treatment history were included. Periodontal parameters, including periodontal inflamed surface area, masticatory efficiency, and periodontal disease classification; serum IL6 and HsCRP levels; and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G titers against periodontal pathogens were evaluated at baseline and after treatment. Subjects were classified as low or high responders (group) based on periodontal inflamed surface area changes.RESULTSThere were 148 participants. Only periodontal inflamed surface area changes were markedly different between low and high responders. Periodontal treatment (time point) decreased both serum IL6 and HsCRP levels. The interaction between group and time point was remarkable only for serum IL6 levels. Changes in serum IgG titers against periodontal pathogens were not associated with IL6 changes in high responders. We analyzed the indirect effect of serum anti-Pg type 2 IgG titer changes using mediation analysis and found no significance. However, the direct effect of group (low or high responder) on IL6 changes was considerable.CONCLUSIONSPeriodontal treatment effectively decreased serum IL6 levels, independent of periodontal pathogen infection, in systemically healthy individuals with periodontal disease.