Aspectos epidemiológicos, microbiológicos e imunológicos da associação entre alcoolismo e periodontite

Abstract

The periodontal diseases together form a group of infectious inflammatory diseases, that result from the interaction between the supra- and subgingival biofilm and the inflammatory reaction generated by the host. Several risk factors and variables can interfere with and modulate the relationship between the microbial challenge and host response. Although poorly researched and with conflicting data, alcoholism is a behavioral factor associated with periodontal disease. Additionally, little is known about the interaction between the microbiological and immunological response towards periodontitis. Thus, this study is justified to seek further clarification of the influence of alcohol consumption on the severity of and susceptibility to periodontal diseases. Therefore, this study aims to determine the periodontal condition, epidemiological, microbiological and immunological profiles among users dependent and not dependent on alcohol. Specifically, the goals are to: a) to determine the prevalence of periodontitis in a population with different levels of alcoholic beverage consumption; b) to verify the influence of the risk variables associated with alcohol use and periodontitis; c) to determine the presence and frequency of the periodontal pathogens, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella Intermedia, Eikenella corrodens, Porphyromonas gingivalis e Fusobacterium nucleatum in non-users and the alcoholically dependent with chronic periodontitis; d) to quantify the tumor necrosis factor-alpha protein (TNF-) and IL-1, in the gingival fluid of non-users and the alcoholically dependent with chronic periodontitis. This study will be presented in the form of two scientific articles with differentiated focus: Study 1 - cross-sectional study of the association of risk variables in the occurrence of periodontitis among individuals with different levels of alcoholic beverage consumption, whose convenience sample consisted of 542 individuals living in the western region of Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil. Study 2 - nested case-control study of the cross-quantification of periodontal pathogens and pro-inflammatory cytokines in subjects with chronic periodontitis who are dependent and not dependent on alcoholic beverages. Results: Study 1 showed a positive relationship between the frequency of alcohol, and the prevalence and severity of periodontitis. Smoking and tooth loss were significantly associated with the occurrence of periodontitis. Study 2 did not show a difference between the groups in the quantification of TNF- and IL-1, but showed significant difference in the frequency of three periodontal pathogens (Pi, Ec, Fn) between the groups. Conclusion: the prevalence of periodontitis in alcohol users in the cross-sectional study was elevated and, incrementally, frequency and alcohol dependence increased the odds of occurrence of periodontitis, especially in smokers. The case-control study suggests that addiction to alcohol may alter the balance significantly increasing the quantity of Pi, Ec and Fn in the alcohol dependent users.