INTRODUCTION: Periodontal disease is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluated periodontal treatment efficacy in patients with NAFLD and periodontal disease. METHODS: This multicenter, 2-arm, randomized study recruited adult patients with NAFLD and periodontitis, alanine aminotransferase levels ≥40 U/L, and equivalent steatosis grade ≥1. Forty eligible patients (18 men and 22 women) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (scaling and root planning [SRP; n = 20] and tooth brushing [n = 20] groups) stratified by age and sex. The primary and secondary endpoints were changes in alanine aminotransferase levels and serum Porphyromonas gingivalis IgG antibody titers from baseline to 12 weeks, respectively. Efficacy analysis was performed using an intention-to-treat approach (t test). This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000022079). RESULTS: We observed a significantly higher decrease in absolute alanine aminotransferase levels and P. gingivalis IgG antibody titers in the SRP group than in the tooth brushing group (−12 vs 1 U/L; mean difference [δ], −12; 95% confidence interval [CI], −20 to −5; P = 0.002). The decrease in P. gingivalis IgG antibody titer was significantly higher in the SRP group than in the tooth brushing group (FDC381, −1.6 [2.5]; δ, −1.6; 95% CI, −2.7 to −0.4; P = 0.0092; SU63, −1.7 [2.0]; δ, −1.7; 95% CI, −2.7 to −0.7). No life-threatening events or treatment-related deaths occurred. DISCUSSION: Periodontal treatment induced significant short-term and mid-term reductions in liver enzyme levels and antibody titers. Further research is warranted to clearly define SRP efficacy and tolerability in patients with NAFLD and periodontitis.

Objective. We evaluated the efficacies of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and minocycline ointment (MO) on clinical and bacteriological markers and the local host inflammatory response. Materials and Methods. A total of 30 patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to two groups. Selected periodontal pockets (probing depth 5–7 mm with bleeding on probing) were treated with aPDT or MO. Measurements of clinical parameters and the collection of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and subgingival plaque were performed at baseline, and at 1 and 4 weeks after treatment. Quantification of periodontopathic bacteria in the sulcus and a multiplex bead immunoassay of ten inflammatory cytokines in the GCF were performed. Results. Local MO administration exhibited a significant decrease in scores for clinical parameters (P<0.01) and a significant reduction in bacterial counts (P<0.01) and interleukin-1β and interferon-γ levels at 1 and 4 weeks after treatment (P<0.01). No significant changes were observed in the aPDT group, except in clinical parameters. Conclusions. Although our study had some limitations, we found that while local administration of MO may slightly help to improve clinical, microbiological, and crevicular cytokine levels in periodontal pockets, aPDT did not show any effects. This trial is registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000013376.

The diagnosis of the progression of periodontitis presently depends on the use of clinical symptoms (such as attachment loss) and radiographic imaging. The aim of the multicenter study described here was to evaluate the diagnostic use of the bacterial content of subgingival plaque recovered from the deepest pockets in assessing disease progression in chronic periodontitis patients. This study consisted of a 24-month investigation of a total of 163 patients with chronic periodontitis who received trimonthly follow-up care. Subgingival plaque from the deepest pockets was recovered and assessed for bacterial content of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using the modified Invader PLUS assay. The corresponding serum IgG titers were measured using ELISA. Changes in clinical parameters were evaluated over the course of 24 months. The sensitivity, specificity, and prediction values were calculated and used to determine cutoff points for prediction of the progression of chronic periodontitis. Of the 124 individuals who completed the 24-month monitoring phase, 62 exhibited progression of periodontitis, whereas 62 demonstrated stable disease. The P. gingivalis counts of subgingival plaque from the deepest pockets was significantly associated with the progression of periodontitis (p < 0.001, positive predictive value = 0.708). The P. gingivalis counts of subgingival plaque from the deepest pockets may be associated with the progression of periodontitis.