Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDental Research Journal1735-33279120120218Comparison of cardiovascular disease risk in two main forms of periodontitis899899ENRahulChopraDepartments of Periodontics and Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana, India. rahulchopra28@yahoo.comSudhir R.PatilShivaniMathur20120218Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant and has been proved to be asignificant predictor of future cardiovascular events. Recent studies have demonstrated a correlationbetween periodontitis and elevated CRP levels. However, comparison between the levels of CRPin two main forms of periodontitis is ambiguous. This study aims at determining and comparing therelative levels of serum CRP in aggressive and chronic periodontitis patients.Materials and Methods: A total of 240 systemically healthy subjects were divided into threegroups of 80 based on having generalized aggressive periodontitis, chronic generalized periodontitisand non-periodontitis (NP; controls). Venous blood samples were collected for quantitative CRPanalysis using turbidimetric immunoassay.Results: Mean CRP levels were significantly greater in both generalized aggressive periodontitis(7.49±2.31 mg/l) and chronic generalized periodontitis (4.88±1.80 mg/l) groups as compared to NP(0.68±0.23 mg/l) controls. Moreover, CRP levels were significantly higher in aggressive periodontitisas compared to chronic periodontitis patients. Also, CRP levels positively correlated with theamount of periodontal destruction as measured by probing depth and clinical attachment loss forboth chronic generalized periodontitis and generalized aggressive periodontitis.Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicated that periodontitis should be of particularconcern in younger individuals, where elevated levels of CRP may contribute to early or morerapid cardiovascular disease in susceptible patients. Thus, further research should be carried outat a community level to ascertain these findings.Key Words: C-reactive protein, cardiovascular disease, periodontitis