Inflammatory cytokines in leprosy reactions and periodontal diseases

The inflammatory cytokines involved in the immune response to chronic periodontal disease (CPD) in the context of leprosy reactions (LR) were analyzed in 57 new cases of multibacillary leprosy (MBL). They were stratified by the presence of CPD and LR. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of inflammatory mediators was determined by qRT-PCR using skin biopsy and by ELISA using serum samples, maintaining 5% of significance level in ANOVA and correlation analyses. Twenty-three (40.4%) patients presented the first LR, whereas 22 (45.0%) patients presented CPD. IL-4 and IL-6 serum levels were significantly lower in patients with CPD and LR than in patients without CPD but with LR; IFN-γ serum levels were higher in patients with CPD and LR than in patients with no CPD and no LR; IL-4 serum levels were negatively correlated with TNF-α gene expression, while IL-6 serum levels were positively correlated with IFN-γ gene expression, in the skin of subjects with CPD and LR. The presence of DPC in individuals with LR immunoregulated IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-4 concentrations. The presence of DPC decreased serum levels of IL-6 and IL-4 in reactional individuals. CPD concomitant to LR resulted in increased IFN-γ serum levels.

Doença periodontal em hansenianos / The periodontal disease in leprosy

Foi realizado exame clínico-odontológico rotineiro em 30 pacientes hansenianos portadores das formas lepralepromatosa ou "bordeline" em diferentes períodos de tempo de diagnóstico da doença. Os achados clínicos observados na maioria dos casos foram: sangramento gengival ao monor toque, hipertrofia da papila gengival, perda de dentes e áreas de hipoestesia na mucosa do rebordo alveolar. A análise estatística dos dados sugere uma correlação direta entre a forma lepra-lepromatosa e o tempo de diagnóstico da hanseníase com o desenvolvimento de doença periodontal crônica inflamatória (DPCI)