Summary :
Objectives: Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease and has been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We investigated whether plasma levels of markers of a prothrombotic state were elevated in patients with periodontitis in comparison with healthy controls. Materials and methods: Untreated patients with moderate (n553) and severe periodontitis (n538) and healthy controls (n539) were recruited. Levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), prothrombin fragment 112 (F112), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and D-dimer were measured as markers of a prothrombotic state. Results: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and leucocyte counts (WBC) were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis. No statistically significant difference was found among the three groups for vWF (p50.264), F112 (p50.295) and D-dimer (p50.572). However, PAI-1 was clearly elevated in the severe periodontitis group (p50.001), even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (padj50.004). Moreover, more patients than controls were having vWF and PAI-1 levels above the respective population medians. Conclusions: In periodontitis, elevated levels of PAI-1 activity are observed compared with healthy controls. This may increase the potential for impaired fibrinolysis, a condition that results in a prothrombotic state. We suggest that this state, if left untreated, may contribute to an increased risk for CVD.

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