Evaluation of the relationship between psoriasis, periodontitis, and markers of inflammation

Introduction
Periodontal disease and psoriasis are chronic and multifactorial inflammatory conditions which share immunopathological mechanisms and risk factors. They often coexist and reflect each other as extensive research proved a correlation between the advancement of periodontitis and the severity of psoriasis.

Aim
The main aim of this study was to assess the influence of the prevalence of psoriasis and periodontitis using the selected markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1α and IL-17.

Material and methods
Test sample consisted of 30 psoriatic inpatients, subjected to dental examination and blood tests. 29 healthy individuals constituted the control group and underwent thorough clinical examination to rule out psoriasis.

Results
Our results confirmed that all dental indices reflecting oral hygiene and periodontal health were significantly better in healthy controls than in patients with psoriasis. Further analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between the levels of CRP, a few of the cytokines (IL-1, IL-17), and dental indices in psoriatic patients. Moreover, we found that patients with psoriasis visited the dentist less frequently than healthy participants.

Conclusions
In order to fully establish the relationship between psoriasis, periodontitis and markers of inflammation, further research on larger sample sizes is needed. However, the results obtained point to the crucial role of diagnosing and treating periodontitis in preventing and mitigating psoriasis. Joint effort of physicians and dentists is necessary to ensure a comprehensive treatment of a psoriatic patient.