Cyclosporin associated gingival overgrowth in renal transplant recipients

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and severity of gingival overgrow th in a group of renal transplant recipients treated in one centre in North ern ireland, STUDY DESIGN: A consecutive group of patients who had had a renal transplan t for at least 6 months and were attending the Renal Unit in Belfast City H ospital took part in the study. These were divided into a group of 84 subje cts treated with cyclosporin since their transplant who were compared with a control group of 36 transplant recipients who had never received cyclospo rin, Each subject had a periodontal examination and completed a questionnai re. The severity of gingival overgrowth was scored from plaster models. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinically significant gingival overgrowth was equated wi th a score of greater than or equal to 30 using the index developed by Seym our et al (1985). RESULTS: 41 (49%) of the cyclosporin group had clinically significant gingi val overgrowth compared with none of the controls. A significantly higher p roportion of mates had overgrowth than females. There were significant corr elations between age at transplant, plaque, bleeding, pocketing and the sev erity of gingival overgrowth. Many patients with clinically significant gin gival overgrowth were apparently unconcerned about this condition. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that gingival overgrowth is a significant prob lem for renal transplant patients treated with cyclosporin, particularly if they are also treated with a calcium channel blocker, None of the factors measured, in isolation, explained the variable expression of gingival overg rowth in those at risk.