One drug tackles two diseases, Case researcher finds
Prevent bone loss, periodontal disease
December 2, 2005
| For more information: Susan Griffith 216-368-1004
Drugs that reverse and prevent bone loss due to osteoporosis also significantly
ward off periodontal disease, according to a graduate of the Case Western Reserve
University School of Dental Medicine who reports in the current Menopause journal
article, “Periodontal Assessments of Postmenopausal Women Receiving Risedronate.”
Leena Bahl Palomo, D.D.S and M.S.D., is the lead author on the study with
Nabil Bissada, chair and professor of Case’s department of periodontology;
and James Liu, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology of University
Hospitals of Cleveland.
During her graduate studies at Case, Palomo conducted one of the first studies
to look at the impact of a group of bisphosphonates therapies for women with
moderate and mild cases of osteoporosis and periodontal disease.
The study involved 60 postmenopausal women, who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis
by doctors at University Hospitals of Cleveland and who had visited the Case
dental clinics. She compared the women, who had been on daily or weekly bisphosphonate
for at least three months to regenerate bone mass to those on no medications
for the disease. The women were between the ages of 51 and 79, had T scores
on bone scans of the hip or spine of 22.5. Half the group weighed approximately
127 pounds, and the overall study participants had similar alcohol and coffee
daily intakes. The study participants did not smoke or use tobacco or estrogen
products or have chronic medical conditions like diabetes that would increase
the risks of periodontal disease. The risedronate group reported a higher use
of vitamins and calcium supplements.
Each woman received an x-ray of the teeth and jaw and an oral examination
that assessed the amount of inflammation, depth of the periodontal pocket,
recession of the gums, mobility of the teeth and the presence of plaque—the
standard parameters for gum disease as established by the American Academy
of Periodontology. The examiner was unaware of who took medication.
In five of the six parameters, the risedronate therapy group had healthier
periodontal status. Gum recession was not significantly different for either
group.
The therapy group had significantly less plaque, which is an early indicator
for periodontal disease. According to the researchers, risedronate therapy “is
altering the periodontal status.”
“We found a significant difference between the women who used the medications
from the women who did not,” said Palomo. “In the same way that
the bisphosphonate is helping to prevent hip and vertebral fractures, the medications
also prevent the loss of bone in the jaws—the bones which support the
teeth.”
“With a close link established between osteoporosis and periodontal
disease, similar treatment and management of the disease might minimize tooth
loss and the destruction of the alveolar (jaw) bone,” reported Palomo.
Because bone loss is a “silent disease,” and is many times diagnosed
in older women after a hip or bone fracture, the researcher said dentists have
the opportunity to observe signs of osteoporosis during a dental exam and can
refer patients to the internist or gynecologist for a bone scan.
Palomo conducted the work under the direction of her thesis adviser, Bissada,
and Liu from University Hospitals of Cleveland.
“This is more evidence to support the view of the mouth being a mirror
of what’s happening in the body,” said Bissada. Case researchers
have also found a link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease
and complications in pregnancy.
“It also is nice to see that one medicine can help two diseases at the
same time,” added Bissada.
“Drug companies are interested in better bone status for women,” said
Palomo, whose research was funded by Procter & Gamble, a maker of one of
the leading brands of the bisphosphonate therapies for osteoporosis.
The researchers also suggest that this study could be used as a pilot for
a longitudinal study to see what the long-term impact of risedronate therapy
has on periodontal disease.
Palomo, who is a practicing periodontist in the Cleveland area, is a 2004
graduate of the periodontology program at Case, where she also earned her doctor
of dental medicine degree in 2000 and her bachelor’s degree in psychology
and biology in 1996. Her research also won honors from the Midwest Society
of Periodontology for her thesis paper, which was written as a requirement
for her master’s degree in periodontology. She presented the research
findings to the 1,000 attendees at the society’s annual meeting in Chicago.
About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826
and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western
Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research,
service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally
recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering,
Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.
|
