9 research outputs found
Cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth: a clinical-epidemiological evaluation of 121 Italian renal transplant recipients
Background: Although other immunosuppressive agents have been
recently introduced (e.g., tacrolimus), it has been calculated that in
the next decade about 1 million people will still be taking cyclosporin
(CsA). The association between gingival overgrowth (GO) and the
use of CsA is still not clear. In the present study we evaluated the
prevalence and the degree of GO in a group of Italian renal transplant
patients and the possible relationship between gingival lesions
and demographic, oral, systemic, and pharmacological variables.
Methods: One hundred twenty-one renal transplant recipients
receiving immunosuppressive therapy with CsA were evaluated in
this study. Patients were classified in two groups. In the first (screening
group), we included all those patients referred by the Parma University
Renal Transplant Center for a general oral checkup, with no
specific indications for GO. The second group (non-screening group)
included all those patients who specifically had been referred to
the Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine Unit because of GO. We considered
the following variables: gender, daily CsA dose, duration of
immunosuppressive treatment, CsA plasma concentration, concomitant
use of another immunosuppressive agent (azathioprine),
use of other GO inducers (calcium channel blockers, anti-epileptic
drugs), oral hygiene scores, and other drugs taken at the time of
oral examination.
Results: Fisher’s exact test and chi square test demonstrated that
in the screening group, duration of immunosuppressive treatment
and oral hygiene scores were associated both with the prevalence
and the high GO scores (P1
DIT <0.0001; P2
DIT = 0.0023; P1
hyg = 0.0084;
P2
hyg = 0.0068). In the screening group, concomitant use of CsA and
azathioprine is related to a low development degree of GO (P =
0.0088). In the non-screening group, we found a significant association
between poor oral hygiene and high degree of GO (P = 0.0349).
Conclusion: In addition to a probable genetic predisposition,
duration of immunosuppressive treatment and oral hygiene status
are the most important variables related to development and degree
of GO during the use of CsA in this study