EFFECT OF PERIODONTAL TREATMENT ON GINGIVAL OVERGROWTH AMONG CYCLOSPORINE A-TREATED RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

NO DATA EXIST on any association between combined cyclosporine A (Cy A ) and dihydropyridine (DHP) medication and the effect of periodontal t reatment on the occurrence of gingival overgrowth (GO) among renal tra nsplant recipients. Clinical data on 27 renal transplant recipients tr eated with Cy A are presented here, including determinations of serum creatinine, whole blood Cy A concentration, existence of DHP treatment , and periodontal status. GO was classified into four categories accor ding to the clinical changes: score 0 = no GO; score 1 = mild GO; scor e 2 = moderate GO; and score 3 = severe GO. All participants received hygiene phase periodontal treatment and gingivectomies were performed on 10 who originally had score 2 or 3 GO and pocketing. Fourteen (14) of the recipients had no overgrown gingiva or less than at the initial examination, and none of them had GO score 2 or 3 at the time of re-e xamination (group A). Thirteen (13) participants had more overgrown gi ngiva than initially or developed score 2 GO after gingivectomies (gro up B). Group B included significantly more DHP-medicated recipients th an group A (6/13 and 1/14 respectively; P <0.03). The concomitant admi nistration of Cy A and DHP resulted in a significantly increased perce ntage of score 2 overgrown gingival units as compared with Cy A alone (P <0.03). It is concluded that combined treatment with Cy A and DHP i s a significant risk factor for progression or recurrence of GO after periodontal treatment among susceptible patients.