Gingival Recession and Localized Aggressive Periodontitis Among HIV-infected Children and Adolescents Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on gingival recession or localized aggressive periodontitis among HIV-infected children and adolescents. This study reports on the prevalence of these conditions among children and adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: A cross-sectional study on HIV-infected children and adolescents attending a Pediatric HIV clinic in Gauteng, South Africa, between January 2013 and June 2016. Patients received an oral examination and oral hygiene instructions, irrespective of oral- or dental-related complaints. Hard and soft tissue pathology was managed and recorded, together with relevant demographic and clinical data. Statistical analysis was performed in Stata 14 with P < 0.05 as significant. RESULTS: A total of 554 children and adolescents 5-19 years of age (median age: 12.2 years; interquartile range: 10.3-14.9) were included, of whom 78 (14.1%) presented with gingival recession on permanent mandibular incisors and/or localized aggressive periodontitis of molar teeth. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that patients with gingival recession and aggressive periodontitis had a significantly shorter duration of ART and were more likely to have suboptimal HIV control (CD4 count ≤500 cells/µL and/or HIV viral load ≥50 copies/mL) and be on advanced ART regimens after virologic failure on first- and second-line treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize the importance of oral health care among HIV-infected children and adolescents from the onset, to prevent and manage conditions that could result in tooth loss and permanent disfigurement. This is of particular importance in the presence of virologic failure and immunosuppression.

Herpes Simplex I virus impairs regenerative outcomes of periodontal regenerative therapy in intrabony defects: a pilot study.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of herpesvirus type-1 and -2 on the clinical outcomes of periodontal regenerative procedures in isolated deep intrabony pockets, in an experimental population with no detectable periodontal pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen periodontal intraosseous defects in 17 moderate-to-advanced periodontitis patients were treated with regenerative therapy and amelogenins. Microbiological evaluation was performed at baseline (after the completion of initial therapy) and at 1 year to exclude the presence of periodontal pathogens. Herpesviruses-1 and -2 DNA were quantified in the pocket tissues associated to the intrabony defect using molecular assays. Clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD) and gingival recession (REC) were recorded at baseline and at 1 year. RESULTS: After 1 year, the 17 defects resulted in significant CAL gain, PPD reduction and REC increase. HSV-1 was detected in five patients. Herpesvirus-2 was never found. The two subpopulations positive or negative to herpesvirus-1 were homogeneous at baseline. At 1 year, the five herpesvirus-1 positive patients resulted in lower amounts of CAL-gain and PPD reduction and greater amount of REC with respect to the 12 herpesvirus-1 negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of herpesvirus-1 at baseline is associated with poor clinical outcomes following regenerative therapy.

Evaluation of periodontal status in HIV infected persons in Croatia.

A number of periodontal changes have been associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, however our knowledge of the epidemiology, microbiology, host response and natural history of these conditions remains limited. Therefore, the aim of our study was the assessment of possible differences in periodontal status of HIV infected subjects when compared with healthy controls matched for age, gender and smoking habit in Croatian population. Assessment included measurement of plaque accumulation using approximal plaque index, measurement of gingival inflammation by use of sulcus bleeding index, pocket depth, gingival recession as well as the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth in 25 HIV infected subjects (age range 22-61, X = 40.8 years) in comparison with 25 healthy controls (age range 20-62, X = 40.9 years). Statistical analysis was performed by use of descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U test showed significantly increased level of inflammation of the marginal gingiva in HIV infected subjects when compared to the controls (p < 0.002). Significantly increased mean values of periodontal pockets (p < 0.002) and the deepest periodontal pocket (p < 0.003) were also observed when HIV infected subjects were compared to the healthy controls. In HIV infected subjects there was significant increase in the number of decayed, missing and decrease in the number of filled teeth (p < 0.002; p < 0.002; p < 0.009, respectively). The results of this study once again highlight the need for more prevalent periodontal check-ups and treatments in HIV infected subjects.

TT virus infection of periodontal tissues: a controlled clinical and laboratory pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A novel single-strand, circular DNA virus has been recently isolated and named TT virus (TTV). It has been demonstrated that peripheral blood cells harbor TTV DNA, suggesting that the virus might replicate in lymphoid cells and contribute to lymphocyte imbalances with consequent immunosuppressive effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of TTV DNA in healthy and periodontally compromised subjects, evaluating the presence of the virus in the gingiva and saliva, and comparing virological results with clinical data. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (seven males and 14 females, aged 25 to 76 years) were enrolled in the study. Eleven subjects were diagnosed with moderate periodontitis, while 10 were periodontally healthy. A sample of saliva was taken from each patient before recording the periodontal data; subsequently, a gingival biopsy was performed. A real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the presence of TTV DNA in saliva and gingival specimens. RESULTS: A statistically significant association was found between TTV in gingival tissue and the presence of periodontitis (P = 0.0351), while no association was observed between TTV in saliva and the presence of periodontitis (P = 0.4762). CONCLUSIONS: A new DNA virus (TTV) was first identified in the gingival tissue and was found to be significantly associated with the presence of periodontitis. These findings need to be investigated in further studies.

Viral etiology of gingival recession. A case report.

Herpes simplex virus-type I (HSV-1) is responsible for both primary and recurrent infections of the oral mucosa. The aim of this case report is to show how HSV-1 may cause periodontal damage such as gingival recession. A 26-year-old male patient presented in a private office for the treatment of gingival recessions. He reported that the recessions had appeared suddenly with marginal inflammation of the gingiva and vesicle formation; within a few hours, the gingival tissue had been completely destroyed. The lesions were accompanied by pain, fever, and regional lymphadenopathy. Two weeks later, the patient returned complaining of a recurrence accompanied by pain and lymphadenopathy. The following day, the patient's condition had worsened and the depth of the recession had increased. A biopsy was taken for histological examination. A free epithelial-connective tissue graft was performed. Histological and direct immunofluorescence examinations confirmed the herpetic origin of the lesion. Eight months after surgery, a new herpetic lesion was detected in correspondence to the gingival margin of the first lower right premolar; therefore, acyclovir was prescribed. After 1 week, the antiviral therapy was completely successful; the gingival lesion disappeared, and no recession of the soft tissue margin was observed. Based on these clinical features, diagnosis of gingival recession induced by HSV-1 must be carried out at an early stage to establish a successful therapy.