Periodontitis Provokes Retinal Neurodegenerative Effects of Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the retino-choroidal degenerative effects of periodontitis, metabolic syndrome (Mets), and the combination of these diseases using optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements. Methods: Ninety-two patients selected according to inclusion criteria were divided into 4 groups: systemically and periodontally healthy (Control), systemically healthy periodontitis (PD), periodontally healthy metabolic syndrome (MetS), and periodontitis and metabolic syndrome combined (PD-MetS). The systemic inflammatory-oxidative effects of periodontitis and MetS were biochemically evaluated using serum TNF (Tumor necrosis factor)-α level, IL(Interleukin)-1β/IL-10 ratio, and oxidative stress index (OSI: TOS/TAS). Retinal (AMT, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT), and Ganglion cell and Inner plexiform layers (GCL+T) and choroidal (SFCT) morphometric measurements and vascular evaluations (foveal capillary density) were performed via OCT Angio with swept-source technology.

To the best of our knowledge, although there are many clinical studies on the possible effects of Mets on retino-choroidal layers, there is a limited amount of evidence on the effects of periodontitis which is from an animal study. Moreover, there are no studies on the retinal degenerative effects of the combined presence of periodontitis and Mets. In this context, the present study is unique and based on the hypothesis that the alone or combined presence of periodontitis and Mets may provoke retino-choroidal degenerative changes through systemic inflammatory stress.