Prevalent Periodontitis in patients with Hemochromatosis Disease in Brittany (France)

Methods:  Part of examination of patients diagnosed with hemochromatosis mutated for the HFE gene (homozygote C282Y) in the hepatology department of University Hospital of Rennes (reference center for hemochromatosis disease), study includes a detailed periodontal assessment with measurements including Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) measurements at interproximal sites of all teeth. These periodontal measurements for the first 84 patients were compared with UFSBD Survey - 2003.

 Results:  UFSBD 2003 data was available for 2144 adult volunteers resident in the France (male 49%; mean age 49.6; range 35-65 yrs) and 84 patients with hemochromatosis (Male 54%; mean age 50.7; range 35-65 yrs). Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to compare prevalence and severity of periodontitis between these populations, adjusting for age, gender, smoking status and oral hygiene as confounding variables. Severe periodontitis were far more common in the hemochromatosis cohort (OR 8; 95% CI 7-11.2) than in the UFSBD sample.

 Conclusion:  Patients with hemochromatosis have a far higher prevalence and severity of periodontitis than the general population. This strong association may have direct implications for osteo-articular damage and diabetes, complication occurring during the disease. Further analysis are required to identify the biological links (iron overload?) between periodontitis and hemochromatosis and if the treatment of periodontitis leads to better clinical outcomes in people with hemochromatosis.