Ulcerative Colitis And Periodontitis – A Cross Sectional Study From A Norwegian Cohort Diagnosed With Ulcerative Colitis For More Than 10 Years

Abstract Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes the major diseases Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD is understood to be an inflammatory systemic disorder that may have an impact on periodontal disease through shared inflammatory mechanisms. The two subtypes of IBD are often described together although they differ with regards to affected sites in the gastrointestinal tract, histology and oral manifestations. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of periodontitis in a cohort of UC according to the classification scheme in periodontology. The secondary aim was to assess a potential correlation of periodontal status with UC disease parameters, years with UC diagnosis and oral health related quality of life. Method: In a cross-sectional study a cohort from a community hospital in Norway with confirmed ulcerative colitis diagnosis for more than 10 years was comprehensively diagnosed according to the new classification of periodontitis. Periodontal parameters, oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) (OHIP-14), demographic data were collected. Previous UC data including colon activity index (CAI), Mayo score and years of UC diagnosis was used to correlate with the periodontal status.Results: A total of 50 of 63 invited patients participated. According to the new classification scheme on periodontitis, 74% of the patients presented periodontitis. No correlation was found between periodontitis (stage, grade, BoP or PPD>6mm) and CAI, Mayo score, or years with UC diagnosis. The OHIP-14 scores reported were in line with that of a normal population.Conclusions: Localized stage III periodontitis grade B was the most prevalent periodontal diagnosis. No correlation between periodontal disease and previous UC disease markers or years with UC diagnosis was found. In this population of subjects with well-treated UC, both the prevalence of periodontitis and OHRQoL were in line with that of the general population.