Post Liver Transplantation Patients' Response to Conservative Periodontal Treatment

Objectives: to study the response of post liver transplant patients to conservative periodontal treatment. Methods: 17 post liver transplant patients (12 females, 5 males), with average age of 57.76 years, were enrolled in the study. Clinical, and immunological data were recorded for the Ramfjord index teeth at baseline (t1). This was followed by a single appointment full mouth scaling and root planning (ScRP) and oral hygiene training and reinforcement. 4 weeks later (t2), clinical and immunological data collection was repeated. Clinical parameters included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival overgrowth (GO). Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected from the periodontal sulci and pockets of Ramfjord teeth and were analyzed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to measure the concentrations of PG-E2, IL- 1â and TNF-á, and were calculated as concentration per sample. Results: Mean values of PI, GI, PD, CAL and GO at t2 were significantly lower (p<0.05 ANOVA) than their values at t1. (PI: 0.8±0.09 vs. 1.36±0.15, GI: 0.59±0.12 vs. 1.16±0.09, PD: 1.97±0.1mm vs. 2.43±0.18mm, CAL: 3.15±0.09mm vs. 3.51±0.33mm and GO: 0.71±0.05 vs. 0.83±0.17 for t2 and t1, respectively). Comparison of immunological findings between t1 and t2 for PG-E2 (52.52±25.6 pg/ml per sample and 49.61±35.28pg/ml per sample respectively), IL-1 â (12.41±10.07 pg/ml per sample and 12.10±10.89pg/ml per sample respectively) and TNF-á (3.26±1.45 pg/ml per sample and 3.01±1.42pg/ml per sample respectively) demonstrated tendency to lower concentrations of the inflammatory mediators after treatment (t2) although none of the differences reached statistical significance. Conclusion:. A single appointment of ScRP significantly improved clinical parameters in post liver transplantation patients. The immunological parameters after treatment were slightly lower, but the difference didn't reach statistical significance.