Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental
Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center compared two
markers in patients with prostatitis: the prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) used to measure inflammation levels in prostate disease, and the
clinical attachment level (CAL) of the gums and teeth, which can be an
indicator for periodontitis.
Researchers found that subjects with both high CAL levels and
moderate to severe prostatitis have higher levels of PSA or
inflammation, according to Nabil Bissada, chair of the department of
periodontics in the dental school.
Bissada adds that this might explain cases where high PSA levels in
prostatitis patients can’t be explained by what is happening in the
prostate gland itself, meaning something else is causing the
inflammatory reaction.
Participants were selected from patients at the University Hospitals
Case Medical Center with mild to severe prostatitis, and in some cases,
malignancies. The participants were divided into two groups-those with
high PSA levels for moderate or severe prostatitis or a malignancy and
those with levels of PSA below 4 ng/ml-a level associated with healthy
prostate glands. All had not had dental work done for at least three
months and were given an examination to measure gum health.
Researchers found that those with the most severe form of prostatitis
also showed signs of periodontitis.
The researchers discuss the results in the Journal of
Periodontology, the official journal of the American Academy of
Periodontology. Other authors include Nishant Joshi, Sena Narendran,
Rick Jurevic and Robert Skillicorn from the dental school; and Donald
Bodner and Gregory T. MacLennon from University Hospitals Case Medical
Center.
