Periodontitis and the Risk for Systemic Disease

Question 1

Secondary systemic reaction

Answer 1

– Fever and leukocytosis
– Complement activation
– Serum glucocorticoids increased
– Altered synthesis of acute phase proteins

Question 2

Important acute phase protein:

Complement components

Answer 2

opsonization, lysis, chemotaxis

Question 3

Important acute phase proteins:

Protease inhibitors

Answer 3

(2-macroglobulin

Question 4

Important acute phase proteins:

– C-reactive protein

Answer 4

opsonization

Question 5

Important acute phase proteins:

Fibrinogen and Plasminogen

Answer 5

Fibrinogen: coagulation factor, CTX
Plasminogen: degrades blood clots

Question 6

What defines a risk factor?

Answer 6

Consistency of association
– Several studies with similar results
• Strength of associations
– Correct time sequence
– The potential factor must precede the occurrence of the
disease
• Specificity of associations
– If a given factor is related to other diseases, its association with the disease is less likely to be interpreted as causal
Degree of exposure (dose-response effect)
– The risk of developing the disease should be related to thedegree of exposure to the factor
• Biological plausibility
– The association must make sense in light of known
biological mechanisms and pathways
• Support from experimental evidence
– Induction of the disease in animals exposed to the risk factor

Question 7

Major confounding factors in studies of

association of periodontitis with AVD

Answer 7

Smoking
• Age
• Diabetes
• Educational and socioeconomic status