@article{JockelSchneiderHarksHaubitzetal.2014, author = {Jockel-Schneider, Yvonne and Harks, Inga and Haubitz, Imme and Fickl, Stefan and Eigenthaler, Martin and Schlagenhauf, Ulrich and Baulmann, Johannes}, title = {Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Wave Reflection Are Increased in Patients Suffering from Severe Periodontitis}, series = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {9}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, number = {8}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journalone.0103449}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119459}, pages = {e103449}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Aim: This single blind cross-sectional study compared the vascular health of subjects suffering from severe chronic periodontitis, severe aggressive periodontitis and periodontal healthy controls by evaluating pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx) and pulse pressure amplification (PPA). Material and Methods: In a total of 158 subjects, 92 suffering from severe periodontitis and 66 matched periodontal healthy controls, PWV, AIx, central and peripheral blood pressure were recorded using an oscillometric device (Arteriograph). Results: Subjects suffering from severe chronic or aggressive periodontitis exhibited significantly higher PWV (p = 0.00004), higher AIx (p = 0.0049) and lower PPA (p = 0.028) than matched periodontal healthy controls. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the association between periodontal inflammation and increased cardiovascular risk shown by impaired vascular health in case of severe periodontitis. As impaired vascular health is a common finding in patients suffering from severe periodontal disease a concomitant routine cardiovascular evaluation may be advised.}, language = {en} }