Men with HIV Have Increased Alveolar Bone Loss

Area of Science:

• Oral health research
• Immunology
• Infectious disease

Background:

• Periodontal health in men with HIV is understudied.
• HIV infection is associated with gingival inflammation and bone loss.
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved quality of life for people living with HIV (PLWH), leading to focus on aging-related comorbidities like periodontitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess alveolar bone height in men with and without HIV.
• To measure gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) cytokines.
• To evaluate periodontal disease activity in relation to HIV status.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 93 men (50 HIV+, 43 HIV-) aged 35-70 years.
• Conducted periodontal examinations and GCF collection.
• Performed intraoral radiographs to assess alveolar bone height.

Main Results:

• Men with HIV had significantly greater alveolar bone loss (higher alveolar crestal height) than HIV-negative men (p=0.004).
• No significant differences in bleeding on probing, clinical attachment loss, or pocket depths were observed.
• A trend towards elevated GCF IL6 levels was noted in men with HIV (p=0.059).

Conclusions:

• Men with HIV exhibit increased alveolar bone loss, potentially mediated by elevated IL6.
• Results emphasize the importance of oral health management for PLWH.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking HIV, cytokine dysregulation, and periodontal health.