Cyclosporin associated gingival overgrowth in renal transplant recipients

• Published in: Oral diseases Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 27 - 31
• Main Authors: Spratt, H., Boomer, S., Irwin, CR, Marley, JJ, James, JA, Maxwell, P., Middleton, D., Linden, GJ
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-1999; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; cyclosporin; Cyclosporine - adverse effects; Dental Care for Chronically Ill; Dental Plaque - complications; Dental Plaque Index; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Female; gingival overgrowth; Gingival Overgrowth - etiology; Humans; kidney; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Medical sciences; Periodontal Index; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Toxicity: respiratory system, ent, stomatology; transplantation; Human; Prevalence; Stomatology; Toxicity; Recipient; Transplantation; Kidney; Periodontal disease; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Surgery; Ciclosporin; Immunosuppressive agent; Gingiva; Gravity; Hypertrophy
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.1999.tb00060.x

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and severity of gingival overgrowth in a group of renal transplant recipients treated in one centre in Northern Ireland.
STUDY DESIGN: A consecutive group of patients who had had a renal transplant for at least 6 months and were attending the Renal Unit in Belfast City Hospital took part in the study. These were divided into a group of 84 subjects treated with cyclosporin since their transplant who were compared with a control group of 36 transplant recipients who had never received cyclosporin. Each subject had a periodontal examination and completed a questionnaire. The severity of gingival overgrowth was scored from plaster models.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinically significant gingival overgrowth was equated with a score of ≤30 using the index developed by Seymour et al (1985).
RESULTS: 41(49%) of the cyclosporin group had clinically significant gingival overgrowth compared with none of the controlS. A significantly higher proportion of males had overgrowth than females. There were significant correlations between age at transplant, plaque, bleeding, pocketing and the severity of gingival overgrowth. Many patients with clinically significant gingival overgrowth were apparently unconcerned about this condition.
CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that gingival overgrowth is a significant problem for renal transplant patients treated with cyclosporin, particularly if they are also treated with a calcium channel blocker. None of the factors measured, in isolation, explained the variable expression of gingival overgrowth in those at risk.