Investigation of Periodontal Disease Status in Acute Leukemia (Myeloid and Lymphoblastic) Greek Patients: A Case - Control Study

Objectives: Oral manifestations in acute leukemia patients is a serious medical condition. The aim of the current research was to compare the periodontal condition in a group of acute, myeloid and lymphoblastic, leukemia (AM/ALL) patients with a control group of healthy individuals. Methods: 98 patients with AM/ALL and 196 controls were selected. The clinical measurements used to diagnose periodontal condition concerned probing depths (PPDs), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and oral hygiene habits. The models of chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess the possible differences between AM/ALL patients and controls. Results: The mean ages were 65.7 ± 3.4 years and 66.2 ± 2.8 years for cases and controls, respectively. AM/ALL patients had worst periodontal parameters such as PPD (p = 0.052, OR =1.725, 95% CI = 0.995-2.00), tooth-brushing frequency (p = 0.046, OR = 0.581, 95% CI = 0.341-0.00), GI (p = 0.091, OR = 1.632, 95% CI = 0.924-2.88), and BOP (p = 0.011, OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.18-3.563), after adjustment for smoking, socio-economic and educational status, compared with healthy individuals. Conclusion: Individuals with AM/ALL presented deeper periodontal pockets than healthy controls, worse gingival inflammation, and bleeding on probing than healthy controls and poor oral hygiene practices such as daily tooth brushing.