Periodontal status and serum biomarkers levels in haemodialysis patients

Aim: To investigate the association between periodontal status and serum biomarkers levels in haemodialysis patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 haemodialysis patients. The periodontal evaluation was realized using clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), gingival bleeding index (GBI), visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival index (GI). Biochemical and haematological data - serum albumin, phosphorus, creatinine, transferrin, ferritin, iron, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, potassium and haemoglobin -were collected from the medical records. The subject was diagnosed with periodontitis if he/she had at least two inter-proximal sites in different teeth with CAL >= 4 mm and/or at least two inter-proximal sites in separate teeth with PD >= 5 mm. Results: The study population consisted of 45 men and 51 women, with mean time under haemodialysis of 45.6 +/- 33.1 months. Periodontitis was observed in 59.4% of the subjects. The periodontitis group had albumin (p = 0.021) and phosphorus (p = 0.024) serum levels lower than the no periodontitis group. Thus, there was a positive association of periodontitis with hypoalbuminaemia (OR - 9.10, p - 0.006) and a negative association with hyperphosphataemia (OR = 0.21, p = 0.010). Conclusions: These findings suggest that periodontitis is associated with albumin and phosphorus serum levels in haemodialysis patients.