THE EFFECT OF VERAPAMIL ON THE PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF CYCLOSPORINE-INDUCED GINGIVAL OVERGROWTH IN RENAL-ALLOGRAFT RECIPIENTS

CYCLOSPORINE A (CSA) AND VERAPAMIL are two agents used in renal transp lantation, both of which are suspected of inducing gingival overgrowth . This study was conducted to investigate the effect of verapamil on t he severity and prevalence of CsA-induced gingival overgrowth. Fifty-o ne (51) renal transplant recipients (total group) of whom 22 were usin g only CsA (Group A) and 29 of whom were prescribed CsA + verapamil (G roup B) were evaluated for various periodontal and pharmacological par ameters. No statistically significant differences were found in age, s ex, plaque index, gingival index, calculus index, probing depth, CsA o ral dose, CsA whole blood level, duration of CsA therapy, azathioprine dose, and prednisolone dose. Although the prevalence of the gingival overgrowth was more pronounced in CsA + verapamil group compared to Cs A group (51.72% vs. 40.91%), the difference was not statistically sign ificant. Similarly, the severity of gingival overgrowth, although more manifest in CsA + verapamil group than CsA patients (34.24% vs. 28.91 %), was not significantly different. Gingival overgrowth scores in the main group, CsA, and CsA + verapamil groups were found to be positive ly correlated to periodontal probing depths (r = 0.60, r = 0.70, r = 0 .52, respectively) and the gingival index (r = 0.60, r = 0.70, r = 0.5 4, respectively). CsA oral dose, whole blood level, and duration of Cs A therapy were not found to be correlated with the gingival overgrowth in either group. Likewise, the dose of verapamil and the duration of verapamil therapy were not correlated with the gingival overgrowth in Group B. This study indicates that verapamil, when prescribed as the c alcium channel blocker in renal transplant patients, has no augmenting effect on the severity and the prevalence of CsA-induced gingival ove rgrowth.