Cilostazol and Tocopherol in the Management of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: New Insights From a Case Report.

Several treatment protocols for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) have been published. Despite the efficacy of surgical therapy of approximately 90% as primary therapy, the role of other agents, such as drug administration, should not be underestimated. Based on previous experience with osteoradionecrosis, the association of pentoxifylline and tocopherol has shown encouraging results in MRONJ patients. Despite the need for long-term use of the combination, compliance has been good. However, studies in breast cancer patients revealed that pentoxifylline can require dose reduction or discontinuation due to nausea and epigastric pain. Cilostazol has been used as a substitute for pentoxifylline in peripheral artery disease. Herein we report a case in which cilostazol replaced pentoxifylline at a dose of 100mg, 2 times/day with tocopherol 500UI, 2 times/day, in a 77-year-old female patient that could not tolerate pentoxifylline for the management of MRONJ. After an uneventful 22 months of follow-up, a cone-beam computed tomography revealed complete bone formation and no signs of recurrence. Cilostazol may be a useful and safe alternative to pentoxifylline as part of MRONJ management protocols.

Periodontal and chronic kidney disease association: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure is increasing globally and evidence from observational studies suggest periodontal disease may contribute to kidney functional decline. METHODS: Electronic searches of the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were conducted for the purposes of conducting a systematic review. Hand searching of reference lists was also performed. Meta-analysis of observational studies involving periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease in adults was performed. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies was selected from an initial 4055 abstracts. Pooled estimates indicated the odds of having CKD were 60% higher among patients with periodontitis: pooled OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.44-1.79, I2 35.2%, P = 0.11) compared to those without. Conversely, a similar magnitude but non-significant higher odds of having periodontal disease was found among people with CKD 1.69 (95% CI: 0.84, 3.40, I2 = 89.8%, P < 0.00) versus non-CKD. Meta-regression revealed study quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and statistical adjustment for potential confounders explained almost 35% of the heterogeneity in the studies investigating the association between CKD and periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate evidence for a positive association between periodontitis and CKD exists. Evidence for the opposite direction is extremely weak based on significant heterogeneity between studies.