PERIODONTAL DISEASE AS AN EARLY CLINICAL SIGN OF CEREBRAL AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT ARTERIOPATHY WITH SUBCORTICAL INFARCTS AND LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY (CADASIL)

Introduction. The clinical signs of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) are expressed mainly in the nervous system and recently reports also situate them in the retina. Aim. To determine the prevalence and risk of periodontal disease in subjects from families with a history of CADASIL mutation in the department of Antioquia, Colombia. Subjects and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted, with subjects being assigned to the CADASIL group or a control group according to genotying for the R1031CAND C455R mutation in Notch3. Each participant voluntarily signed the informed consent document and was submitted to neurological, neuropsychological and periodontal evaluation. Results. No significant differences were found between the two groups according to age, sex, schooling, tobacco smoking, cognitive status, functional status and the presence of natural teeth. The frequency of soft plaque, gingivitis and periodontal disease was significantly higher in the group of carriers of the CADASIL imitation than in the control group. The CADASIL group had six times more risk of having soft plaque above or equal to 20% than the control group. Prevalence of gingivitis above or equal to 10% was observed in all the members of the CADASIL group. The people in the CADASIL group had five times more risk of suffering periodontal disease than the control group. Conclusions. Carriers of the CADASIL mutation displayed a higher prevalence and risk of periodontal disease. [REV NEUROL 2009; 49: 520-3]