Antithyroid antibodies - a possible involvement in the development of chronic periodontitis

Abstract

Objectives. Identification of periodontal lesions in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) assessed differently depending on their severity and the average serum level of thyroid autoantibodies. Material and methods. The study was initiated in a group of patients (n = 133) diagnosed with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in conditions of normal thyroid function and without other comorbidities. Examination of the oral cavity identified lesions characteristic of chronic periodontitis (CP) classified according to their intensity in - mild, medium and aggravated in a group of 109 patients. The serum level of thyroid autoantibodies – as a mean value – was analyzed in a group of 77 patients with similar periodontal lesions related to their classification. Results. Characteristic ethological changes of chronic periodontitis were identified in 85% of patients being classified as: mild (40.2%), medium (31.9%), aggravated (28.5%). Thyroid autoantibodies were present: 62.3% for antithyroperoxidase antibodies (ATPO), 23.8% for both ATPO and antithyroglobulin antibodies (ATG); 13.7% for ATG. The differentiated statistical calculation of the average values of antibodies found for ATPO presented a high statistical significance (p < 0.0002) for spontaneous bleeding, all degrees of tooth mobility, depth of periodontal pockets, root fork and dental occlusion. No statistical significance was found for ATPO in bacterial plaque and gingival regression. No statistical significance was recorded for the mean level of ATG. Conclusions. The correlation of the serum level of thyroid autoantibodies with the specificity of periodontal lesions certify a possible differentiated involvement of them. For ATPO, extra-thyroid systemic effects can be suggested as a priority.

Keywords

• chronic periodontitis
• chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
• antithyroid autoantibodies