SYSTEMIC RETINOID MEDICATION AND PERIODONTAL HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH PAPILLON-LEFEVRE SYNDROME

Periodontal health in relation to systemic retinoid medication was eva luated retrospectively in patients with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome (PLS ). The material consisted of 18 children/young adults ranging from 8 t o 28 years of age, all with a confirmed diagnosis of PLS. 9 participan ts, comprising a medication group, had been on long-term (range 1.5-9 years) retinoid medication fur their cutaneous lesions. The remaining 9 served as controls. Regardless of whether or not retinoid medication was received, every patient experienced an early and devastating peri odontitis, with atypical edematous and erythematous gingival suppurati on from deep gingival pockets and premature loss of teeth. No correlat ion could be found between the severity of skin involvement and the se verity of periodontal involvement. An improvement with age could be se en for the cutaneous lesions but not for the periodontal condition. Sy stemic medication with retinoids had a favorable therapeutic effect on cutaneous lesions, and no severe compliction/side effect could be see n even after several years of continuous use. However, from the result s of this study it can be concluded that, at least in a situation with poor compliance of daily oral home-care, no positive effect on the pe riodontal health in patients with PLS could be seen by the retinoid me dication. (C) Munksgaard, 1996.