Hepatol Res. 2014 Mar;44(3):349-53. doi: 10.1111/hepr.12126. Epub 2013 Apr 29.

Association between dental infections and the clinical course of chronic liver disease.

Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology

Fredrik Aberg, Jaana Helenius-Hietala, Jukka Meurman, Helena Isoniemi

PMID: 23607641 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12126

Abstract

AIM: Dental infections are implicated in several systemic diseases due to bacteremia and pro-inflammatory effects, but their possible role in liver disease is unclear.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical course of liver disease in relation to dental health among 116 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent dental examination before liver transplantation.

RESULTS: The need for multiple tooth extractions, a surrogate marker of dental infections, was associated with reduced time from diagnosis of liver disease to the need for liver transplantation (P = 0.02). The association was independent of age, sex, liver disease etiology and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (P = 0.04). Among 38 patients with accurate laboratory follow-up data, the number of tooth extractions correlated with the change in MELD score during the year preceding dental examination (r = 0.43, P = 0.03). Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by Streptococcus viridans occurred only among patients with multiple dental infections.

CONCLUSION: Dental infections may influence the clinical course of liver disease, but prospective studies are needed.

© 2013 The Japan Society of Hepatology.

Keywords: endotoxemia; liver fibrosis; oral health; periodontitis

Publication Types

• Journal Article