Gingival status of HIV+ children and the correlation with caries incidence and immunologic profile.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine gingival health and caries levels in HIV-infected children. METHODS The modified gingival index (GI) of 43 HIV+ children of both sexes, aged between 2 and 12 years, was measured and correlated with the DMFT/dmf. The children's immunodeficiency level was also established by means of the CD4:CD8 ratio. Pearson's product-moment correlation co-efficient and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. RESULTS The GI was significantly related to the DMFT/dmf. The children with a GI = 0 presented significantly more DMFT/dmf than the children with a GI > or = 0.1, but there were no significant differences between the GIs of caries-free children and those with DMFT/dmf > or = 1. The children who presented a CD4:CD8 > or = 0.5 ratio presented less DMFT/dmf compared with children who presented a CD4:CD8 < 0.5 ratio. The children who presented a CD4:CD8 < 0.5 ratio presented a statistically significant correlation between their GI and their DMFT/dmf, unlike children who presented a CD4:CD8 > or = 0.5 ratio. Children with a CD4:CD8 < 0.5 who showed a greater DMFT/dmf index also showed greater gingival inflammation. CONCLUSIONS In this study, children with greater caries experience showed more gingival inflammation. In addition, a greater immunological deficiency might indicate a greater caries experience in children.