Influence of periodontal therapy on C-reactive protein level: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Main Authors: Camila Oliveira Teixeira de Freitas (Author), Isaac Suzart Gomes-Filho (Author), Roberta Catapano Naves (Author), Getúlio da Rocha Nogueira Filho (Author), Simone Seixas da Cruz (Author), Carlos Antonio de Souza Teles Santos (Author), Leonardo Dunningham (Author), Lituânia Fialho de Miranda (Author), Mônica Dourado da Silva Barbosa (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: University of São Paulo, 2012-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1590/S1678-77572012000100002; 1678-7757; 1678-7765
• Keywords: Meta-Analysis; Intervention studies; Periodontitis; Periodontal diseases; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Journal of Applied Oral Science, Vol 20, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2012)

The influence of oral infections, especially periodontal disease, on systemic diseases has been extensively discussed in the literature. Because periodontal disease is a persistent infection, it promotes an inflammatory response. C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammatory reactions that is frequently studied, since elevated levels of this protein are related to coronary events. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of periodontal therapy on reducing the serum levels of C-reactive protein, by means of a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of the English-language literature was conducted in the PUBMED-MEDLINE database, using the key words "periodontal disease", "C-reactive protein", "periodontal therapy" and "periodontal treatment", in accordance with the terms for Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), to evaluate the effect of periodontal therapy on C-reactive protein levels. A qualitative analysis of studies of randomized clinical trial design was performed using CONSORT, with subsequent meta-analysis. RESULTS: The literature search initially retrieved 46 potentially relevant studies available in the databases. From these, in accordance with the inclusion criteria, only 11 were selected, of which only 4 fulfilled the criteria of randomized clinical trial design. According to CONSORT, the studies evaluated generally presented good quality with regard to the criteria analyzed. Through meta-analysis, the reduction in mean levels of C-reactive protein (-0.231; p=0.000) after introducing periodontal treatment was estimated. The result was statistically significant, without evidence of heterogeneity between the studies (p=0.311). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that non-surgical periodontal treatment had a positive effect with regard to reduction of the serum levels of C-reactive protein.