Whole-blood platelet aggregation by Porphyromonas gingivalis in patients with peripheral arterial disease

To measure platelet aggregation promoted by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in whole blood, and to investigate the relation between P. gingivalis and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Subjects were 30 patients who were diagnosed as having PAD (PAD Group), and 26 healthy adults without subjective symptoms or arteriosclerosis as a control (Control Group). PAD patients were classified depending on severity levels by Fontaine classification or toe pressure (TP). Twelve-minute changes of electrical impedance after adding P. gingivalis to whole blood was 10.2 ± 4.8 (range, 5.1-14.3) ohm in PAD Group, and 6.1 ± 5.6 (range, 0.2-10.8) ohm in Control Group. PAD Group showed significantly stronger whole-blood platelet aggregation by P. gingivalis. The patients with more severe PAD showed stronger whole-blood platelet aggregation by P. gingivalis. PAD Group had significantly higher serum IgG against P. gingivalis titers than Control Group. In PAD patients with teeth, there was a strong positive correlation between whole-blood platelet aggregation and IgG against P. gingivalis titers.

Platelet aggregation promoted by P. gingivalis was significantly high in PAD patients, and was related to the deterioration of their symptoms even in whole blood, which was the environment closer to physiological conditions.