PERIODONTAL MICROCIRCULATORY ABNORMALITIES IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to observe the differences in periodontal microcirculation between healthy patients and patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Fifteen healthy patients and 15 patients with SSc were examined. Periodontal capillaroscopy was used to investigate the characteristics of microcirculation. The visibility, course, tortuosity, possible presence of microhemorrhages, average caliber of the capillary loops, and number of visible capillary loops per square millimeter were evaluated for each patient. RESULTS: The investigation was simple, non-invasive, and repeatable for each patient. In patients with SSc, it was possible to observe a reduced number of capillaries and a greater capillary diameter and tortuosity. CONCLUSIONS: Capillary alterations in patients with SSc are not limited to the nailfold bed but also occur in periodontal mucosa microcirculation. Such evidence could be extremely important in the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases in patients with SSc.