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Oral Infections and General Health pp 19–33Cite as

Plausible Mechanisms Explaining the Association of Periodontitis with Cardiovascular Diseases

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Abstract

The association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases is now well established. Cardiovascular diseases include atherosclerosis, coronary heart (artery) disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. Atherosclerosis is the underlying pathology of cardiovascular diseases. In this chapter, we describe plausible mechanisms to explain the link between periodontitis, atherosclerosis, and the subsequent cardiovascular diseases. The explanations for the development and exacerbation of atherosclerotic plaques in periodontitis patients include: (1) bacteremia, (2) a pro-inflammatory state, (3) a prothrombotic state, (4) an overactive immunity, (5) dyslipidemia, and (6) common genetic risk factors. Most likely, these plausible mechanisms play all simultaneously a role. Obviously, much more fundamental and clinic research is needed to further study the associations between periodontitis and atherosclerotic diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Periodontology, Academic Center of Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands

    Bruno G. Loos DDS, MSc, PhD, Wijnand J. Teeuw DDS, MSc & Elena A. Nicu DDS, MSc, PhD

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  1. Bruno G. Loos DDS, MSc, PhD
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  2. Wijnand J. Teeuw DDS, MSc
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  3. Elena A. Nicu DDS, MSc, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno G. Loos DDS, MSc, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Odontology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anne Marie Lynge Pedersen

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Loos, B.G., Teeuw, W.J., Nicu, E.A. (2016). Plausible Mechanisms Explaining the Association of Periodontitis with Cardiovascular Diseases. In: Lynge Pedersen, A. (eds) Oral Infections and General Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25091-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25091-5_3

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-25089-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-25091-5

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