Elevated Systemic Inflammatory Burden and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Adults with Endodontic Apical Lesions.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to assess whether apical lesions are associated with inflammatory serum markers of cardiovascular risk, especially high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), in young adults.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, otherwise healthy individuals with apical lesions of endodontic origin (ALEOs) and a clinical diagnosis of asymptomatic apical periodontitis and controls aged between 18 and 40 years were included. Patients' sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and classic cardiovascular risk factors were recorded, and the pathobiological determinants of atherosclerosis in youth score was calculated. Oral clinical and radiographic examinations were performed. Blood samples were collected to determine the lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin, hsCRP, immunoglobulin G, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, matrix metalloproteinase 8, soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and soluble E-selectin. Bivariate and multivariate analyses adjusting for oral and classic cardiovascular risk factors were performed.


RESULTS
hsCRP levels were significantly higher in ALEO patients versus controls (median = 2.54 vs 0.78), whereas the pathobiological determinants of atherosclerosis in youth score was comparable among the groups. Also, the levels of IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 8, and soluble E-selectin were significantly higher in ALEO patients. hsCRP, IL-6, and IL-12 correlated with soluble adhesion molecules. Bivariate analysis based on hsCRP serum concentrations ≥1 mg/L showed an odds ratio (OR) = 6.8, and the risk increased 3.3 times for an additional ALEO. In multivariate analysis, ALEO was significantly associated with hsCRP levels ≥1 mg/L (OR = 5.1-12.8) independently of the adjustment model. ALEO also associated with CRP levels >3 mg/L, which was significant after the adjustment for covariates (OR = 4.0).


CONCLUSIONS
ALEO is associated with the systemic inflammatory burden and cardiovascular risk determined by hsCRP, supporting a mechanistic link for cardiovascular diseases in young adults.
['Garrido|Mauricio|M|', 'Cárdenas|Angélica M|AM|', 'Astorga|Jessica|J|', 'Quinlan|Francisca|F|', 'Valdés|Macarena|M|', 'Chaparro|Alejandra|A|', 'Carvajal|Paola|P|', 'Pussinen|Pirkko|P|', 'Huamán-Chipana|Patricia|P|', 'Jalil|Jorge E|JE|', 'Hernández|Marcela|M|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D015415:Biomarkers D002097:C-Reactive Protein D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D019040:E-Selectin D005260:Female D006801:Humans D015850:Interleukin-6 D008297:Male D010485:Periapical Periodontitis D012307:Risk Factors D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome D055815:Young Adult
C-reactive protein E-selectin Cardiovascular diseases interleukin 6 periapical periodontitis