Effect of periodontal treatment on circulating CD34+ cells and peripheral vascular endothelial function: a randomized controlled trial

Li X, Tse HF, Yiu KH, Li LSW, Jin L. Effect of periodontal treatment on circulating CD34+ cells and peripheral vascular endothelial function: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38: 148–156. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2010.01651.x. Abstract Aim: Periodontal disease is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased circulating progenitor cell (CPC) count. This study sought to investigate the effect of periodontal treatment on CPC count and vascular endothelial function. Materials and Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 50 otherwise healthy subjects with moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis. They were randomly assigned into Treatment group (n=25), in whom periodontal treatment was conducted immediately, and Control group (n=25), in whom periodontal treatment was postponed until the completion of this 3-month study. CPCs and peripheral endothelial function were evaluated at baseline and 3-month follow-up using flow cytometry and peripheral arterial tonometry, respectively. Results: Based on the intention-to-treat analysis, periodontal treatment exhibited neutral effects on endothelial function [treatment effect: 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.29 to 0.35, p=0.85]. However, circulating CD34+ cells count significantly decreased in the Treatment group compared with the controls (treatment effect: −29.85 cells/μl, 95% CI: −52.62 to −7.08, p=0.011). The reduction of circulating CD34+ count was positively correlated with the decrease in sites% with bleeding on probing or periodontal pockets 4 mm. Conclusions: This study suggests that treatment of periodontitis has neutral effects on peripheral endothelial function but significantly decreases circulating CD34+ cell count.