Periodontal status and treatment needs in HIV-infected patients.

PURPOSE The aim of this study is evaluation of periodontal status and definition of periodontal treatment needs in HIV infected patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined 49 HIV-infected subjects (19-52 years of age) and 49 non-infected patients as the control group. Periodontal status and treatment needs were evaluated by using CPITN - Community Periodontal Index and Treatment Needs. Aquired data were analyzed in examined populations regarding infection's duration time and in dependance on absolute number of CD4 lymphocytes in microl of plasma, dividing patients according to criterion of HIV infection classification after CDC (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention). RESULTS More advanced changes in the paradontium were observed mostly in examined HIV infected subjets. As HIV infection time proceeds, the periodontal status of examined patients impairs, what is manifested by the decrease of the number of sextants with the intact paradontium and the increase of the number of sextants excluded from the research. There was no significant relation found between periodontal status evaluated with CPITN and the immunity status of examined subjects. 26.5% of HIV infected subjects needed the complex therapy. As the immunity decreased, the number of patients qualified to the complex treatment increased, and the number of HIV(+) patients with no need of therapy decreased. CONCLUSIONS 1. As the infection duration time proceeds, the periodontal status in HIV-infected patients impairs. 2. Deterioration of health status, expreesed with decrease of absolute number of CD4 lymphocytes is accompanied by intensification of pathological periodontal changes. 3. HIV infected persons are group with high periodontal needs and require intensive periodontal care.