The distribution of gingival overgrowth in organ transplant patients
It has been noted that patients taking immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine have an increase in anteriolabial gingival overgrowth. It has been shown to be associated with an increase in plaque and gingivitis as well. This study was designed to look at a large patient pool over a long period of time to see the distribution of hyperplasia and if plaque and gingivitis are factors for this hyperplasia.
In this cohort study spanning up to 13 years, 194 dentate organ transplant patients, with two-thirds of the patients concomitantly medicated with a calcium channel-blocking drug, were assessed. Study models allowed for measurements of the gingiva; a plaque index and bleeding index were utilized. The results found the distribution of gingival hyperplasia to be more frequently found in the canine region and on the labial surfaces; gingival tissue between the central incisors showed lower levels of overgrowth which are comparable to the levels of overgrowth seen in the premolar and molar regions of the mouth. Both mean plaque and gingival bleeding index scores correlated to an increase of the gingiva. [D.H.]
Thomason, J., P. Kelly, and R. Seymour, J Clin Periodont, 23:367, 1996