Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis: a marker for immune deterioration and a predictor for the diagnosis of AIDS.

A multitude of oral lesions have been described in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Few studies have attempted to correlate specific oral findings with immune status and HIV disease progression in the population reflecting the demographic profile of this epidemic. A prospective study was conducted among 700 ambulatory HIV-infected individuals seeking dental care between July 1, 1988 and June 30, 1992. Patients entered the study when they first applied for care and were followed at regular intervals unless death occurred before the conclusion of the study. The prevalence rate of necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP) was calculated for the entire population and specific to race, gender, and HIV transmission category. Survival analysis was used to estimate the cumulative probability of death within 24 months of a NUP diagnosis. The association between NUP diagnosis and CD4+ cell count below 200 cells/mm3 was also investigated, and it was found that HIV-infected individuals presenting with a diagnosis of NUP were 20.8 times as likely to have a CD4+ cell count below 200 cells/mm3 compared to HIV-infected individuals presenting without NUP. The prevalence of NUP was 6.3%. The lesion was significantly more common among men having sex with men (MSM), 8.4%, compared with non-MSM males, 1.8%. No racial difference was noted. The mean CD4+ cell count for patients with NUP was 51.8 cells/mm3 (SD +/- 71.2) while the median CD4+ cell count was 32.0 cells/mm3. The predictive value of a CD4+ cell count below 200 cells/mm3 in patients with this lesion was 95.1%. A cumulative probability of death within 24 months of a NUP diagnosis was 72.9%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevalence of HIV-1 and oral lesions in pregnant women in rural Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: Whether oral lesions were associated with human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) status in a cohort of pregnant Malawian women was studied. STUDY DESIGN: Six hundred thirty-eight women participated in a randomized prospective study at 3 prenatal clinics in a rural area of southern Malawi. Oral examinations, followed by collection of oral fluid specimens with an HIV-1 oral specimen collection device, were performed. The specimens were tested for antibodies against HIV-1. RESULTS: Sixty-one oral lesions were found in 60 participants. While traditional HIV-1 associated lesions were rare, benign migratory glossitis was unexpectedly common (6%). Oral hairy leukoplakia was significantly more common among women who were HIV-1 positive than among women who were HIV-1 negative. An HIV-1 prevalence rate of 21.8% was estimated among the women, with the highest rate of HIV-1 infection (34.1%) among women aged 25 to 29 years. CONCLUSION: Stratifying lesions showed a small number of oral hairy leukoplakia to be markers for HIV-1. A high seroprevalence was found in this rural cohort, but there were unexpectedly few oral lesions. The relatively few oral lesions diagnosed may indicate a recent infection with HIV.

A review of burning mouth syndrome.

Burning mouth syndrome is a complicated, poorly understood, predominantly oral condition that affects more than 1 million people in the United States. Women are particularly affected by the condition; they are diagnosed with symptoms seven times more frequently than males. Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by a burning, painful sensation of the oral mucosa that most commonly involves the anterior tongue. Many precipitating factors to burning mouth syndrome have been proposed, and treatment addressing these factors has had limited success. Patients with burning mouth syndrome are more likely to be evaluated by physicians, and therefore it is advantageous for the physician to be familiar with this oral condition. This paper reviews burning mouth syndrome, associated causative factors, and treatment strategies for the physician.

Atrial fibrillation and its relationship to dental care.

BACKGROUND: The number of Americans diagnosed with and treated for atrial fibrillation, or AF, continues to rise. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: To determine how AF may affect the provision of dental care, the author conducted a literature search, using terms such as "atrial fibrillation" and "dental care." He found a lack of information on these combined topics. Therefore, the author extrapolated information from scientific peer-reviewed articles on AF, medical and surgical management of AF, and dental care to determine appropriate guidelines for dental treatment of patients with AF. RESULTS: The author found that complications can arise from AF and that medical management of AF can affect the delivery of dental care. Dentists should determine the underlying cause of AF to decide if antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated. Patients who are receiving anticoagulation therapy may not need to alter their therapy schedules for minor oral surgery procedures. Anxiety as a result of AF may require use of anxiety-reducing protocols before dental treatment. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: To reduce potential complications associated with dental care, dental practitioners should be familiar with AF and its treatment. Dental management of patients with AF may require treatment modifications, but generally will not deviate significantly from routine standards.

The hypertensive dental patient.

The dental team plays an integral role in safeguarding the general health of patients. Dental health care workers should be able to recognize risk factors associated with hypertension and counsel patients in an effort to reduce those that are present. In addition, dental professionals should recognize how these risk factors and associated hypertension affect the provision of dental care. This article reviews recent findings and therapies for hypertension, evaluates historically accepted but unsupported anecdotal information on the dental management of hypertensive patients and proposes guidelines for the dental management of these patients.

A review of oral fungal infections and appropriate therapy.

Dental health care providers must recognize oral fungal pathogens that often are markers for early signs of immune deterioration. After accurate identification, appropriate therapy can be initiated. Predisposing factors for development of oral fungal infections, identification of oral fungal infections, treatment options and their relative costs are reviewed.

Dental complications after treating patients with AIDS.

Post-procedural complications were assessed for 331 patients with AIDS after a wide range of outpatient dental procedures. Only patients with a CD4+ cell count < or = 200 cells/mm3 were included. Patients' charts were reviewed retrospectively by the treating dentist. The overall complication rate was 0.9 percent.

Host factors affecting disease transmission.

In prevention of transmission of infectious disease, the host uses a variety of protective mechanisms and can elicit many different responses. Nonspecific defense mechanisms include an intact integument (skin and mucous membranes). The host also can use specialized substances it may secrete, such as mucin or fatty acids to prevent colonization or to inhibit growth of potential pathogens. Specialized surface structures are also used by the host in prevention of disease transmission. These structures include cells composed of keratin and cells with cilia. Additionally, nonspecific protection can be achieved through the actions of the host's nonpathogenic microflora. If these nonspecific barriers to microorganism invasion are breached, other host interactions occur. Complement has many nonspecific actions that may be used to control invasion of microorganisms. PMLs are an additional line of defense the host has available in prevention of infection. These cells are responsible for intracellular killing of pathogens through the use of enzymatic and oxidative mechanisms. The mononuclear phagocyte system allows for elimination of foreign material and debris from the inflammatory reaction. Additionally, the macrophages process and present antigens to T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes differentiate to produce plasma cells, which produce specific antibodies aimed at the invading microorganism. T lymphocytes are involved in the killing of pathogenic microorganisms and in the production of powerful immune modulators known as lymphokines. Fever and inflammation also serve to stimulate reactions aimed at destroying and removing the pathogen from the host system. These factors all play an important role in prevention of disease transmission in a human host.

Dental management of patients with diabetes mellitus.

It is estimated that a total of 16 million Americans are suffering fro m diabetes mellitus (DM). Dental health-care providers are involved in screening for this disease, as well as treating numerous patients with DM. As do all medically complex patients, individuals with DM pose a challenge for dental providers. This article describes the pathogenesis and physiology of DM and recommends guidelines for dental care.

Major aphthous ulcers in patients with HIV disease.

Major aphthous ulcers are associated with a high degree of morbidity in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. A large representative cohort infected with human immunodeficiency virus was examined to evaluate the prevalence of major aphthous ulcers, demographic data of patients with major aphthous ulcers, and the usage of major aphthous ulcers as a marker for immune deterioration. The effects of tobacco smoking and the use of specific antibiotics, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or dapsone, on the development of major aphthous ulcers was also investigated. In a population of 767 persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus, major aphthous ulcers were found at a prevalence rate of 3.1% (24 patients). This type of lesion did not show any predilection for human immunodeficiency virus transmission category, ethnic group, or gender. Persons who received trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or dapsone or had a history of tobacco smoking showed a decreased prevalence of major aphthous ulcers. All patients (100%) with major aphthous ulcers had CD4+ cell counts below 100 cells/mm3, but only 50% had a previous acquired immunodeficiency syndrome defining illness. Major aphthous ulcers in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus are suggestive of severe immune suppression and may serve as a marker for human immunodeficiency virus disease progression.