Success of root canal therapy in HIV-positive patients

This retrospective study evaluated the success rate of root canal therapy in 157 HIV-positive patients who had undergone nonsurgical endodontic treatment in a dedicated clinic between 1998 and 2004. Dental records and radiographs were reviewed and information concerning age, gender, medical history, anti-retroviral medication, treatment dates, and follow-up evaluation was compiled. All root canal treatment was performed following the clinical guidelines of the American Association of Endodontists. A single practitioner who was responsible for seeing all of the patients at the six-month recall examination reviewed radiographs. Success was defined as the absence of pain and swelling as well as the absence of the periapical lesion (or a reduction in size compared to its preoperative radiographic size). At the six-month postoperative evaluation, a success rate of 90% was observed in the study group. No statistically significant differences were noted when the success of the root canal therapy was related to the symptomatic clinical presentation, the antiretroviral therapy, or the viral load.