Effect of Intensive Periodontal Therapy on Blood Pressure in Prehypertension

Intensive periodontal interventions can reduce blood pressure (BP) and improve endothelial function in prehypertensive patients, according to results presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions held November 11-15, 2017, in Anaheim, California.

In a single-blind randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01917292), researchers enrolled 107 participants with prehypertension and moderate to severe periodontitis. The study participants were randomly assigned to receive either intensive periodontal treatment (n=53) or community-based periodontal care (n=54). Treatment duration was 4 weeks, and participants were followed for 6 months.

After 6 months, the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was significantly improved in the intensive periodontal treatment group (P <.05). The intensive periodontal treatment group also saw a reduction in systolic and diastolic BP, as well as a decrease in high sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels compared with the community-based care group.

The intensive treatment group also saw an improvement in flow-mediated vasodilation compared with the community-based care group.

Intensive periodontal treatment led to a reduction in BP, prevention of inflammation, and improvement in endothelial function. “Our data suggested that intensive periodontal therapy may be a novel prevention strategy to retard the transition of dental prehypertension to hypertension,” concluded the researchers.

Reference

Tao J, Yang J, Zhou Q, et al. Efficacy of intensive periodontal therapy in primary prevention of dental hypertension development: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; November 11-15, 2017; Anaheim, California. Abstract 372.