Herpesviruses in HIV-periodontitis

Background/aims: Human herpesvirus-associated diseases exhibit elevated mor bidity and mortality in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of herpesviruses in HIV-periodontitis. Method: Gingival biopsies from periodontitis lesions of 21 HIV-patients and 14 non HIV-patients were studied. Nested-polymerase chain reaction methods were employed to detect human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus type 1 a nd 2 (EBV-1, EBV-2), herpes simplex virus, human herpes virus (HHV)-6, HHV- 7 and HHV-8. Results: Gingival biopsies from HIV-periodontitis lesions showed on average 4.0 herpesvirus species and gingival biopsies from HIV periodontitis lesio ns of non-HIV patients revealed an average of 1.9 herpesvirus species (p<0. 001). Occurrence of 4 to 6 different herpesviruses was more common in HIV- than in non HIV-gingival biopsies (71% vs. 7%) (p<0.001). EVB-2 was detecte d in 12 (57%) biopsies from HIV-periodontitis but was absent in non HIV-per iodontitis biopsies (p=0.002). HHV-6 also occurred in significantly higher frequency in HIV-periodontitis (71%) than in non HIV-periodontitis (21%) (p =0.01). HHV-8 was detected only in biopsies from HIV-periodontitis lesions. . Conclusion: HIV-periodontitis seems to be associated with elevated occurren ce of EBV-2, HHV-6 and herpesvirus co-infections compared to periodontitis in non-HIV-patients. The periodontopathic significance of herpesviruses in HIV-periodontitis constitutes a research topic of considerable interest.