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Drug-induced gingival overgrowth
A Dongari1, H T McDonnell, R P Langlais
1Dental School, University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio.
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology
|October 1, 1993
Summary
Certain medications like anticonvulsants and calcium channel blockers can cause similar gingival enlargements. This may involve disturbances in calcium influx and collagen metabolism within gingival connective tissue.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Periodontology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Certain anticonvulsants, cyclosporine, and calcium channel blockers are known to cause gingival enlargement.
- These drugs share similar pharmacologic mechanisms at the cellular level.
- The primary target tissue differs, suggesting a common secondary target.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential common mechanism underlying drug-induced gingival enlargement.
- To investigate the role of gingival connective tissue in this hyperplastic response.
- To hypothesize the cellular pathways involved in the observed tissue reaction.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical and histological data on drug-induced gingival enlargement.
- Pharmacological analysis of commonalities among causative agents.
- Speculative modeling of cellular and molecular interactions in gingival tissue.
Main Results:
- Clinically and histologically similar gingival enlargements are observed with diverse medications.
- A common secondary target tissue, such as gingival connective tissue, is hypothesized.
- Potential mechanisms involve disturbances in calcium ion influx, collagen metabolism, and ion exchange.
Conclusions:
- Drug-induced gingival enlargement may stem from a shared mechanism acting on gingival connective tissue.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise cellular and molecular interactions.
- Current management focuses on plaque control, professional debridement, and surgical intervention.