PERIODONTAL STATUS OF HIV-1 AND HIV-2 SEROPOSITIVE AND HIV SERONEGATIVE FEMALE COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS IN SENEGAL

COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES OF 92 commercial sex workers in Senegal, Africa included an oral examination in which we obtained measurements of deca yed, missing, and filled (DMF) teeth; plaque index; gingival index; re cession; probing depth (PD); clinical attachment loss (GAL); and the p resence of HIV-associated periodontal lesions, under conditions wherei n the examiner was unaware of the subject's HIV status. Twenty-seven s ubjects (29%) were HIV seropositive, 19 of whom were positive for HIV- 1, 7 positive for HIV-2, and 1 positive for both. Most subjects were n ot taking any medications and previous dental care was limited. HIV-se ronegative and HIV-seropositive subjects were similar in mean age, num ber of DMF teeth, percentage of sites with visible plaque, and number of sites with recession. However, the frequency of sites with gingival bleeding, with PD greater than or equal to 6 mm, and with CAL greater than or equal to 6 mm was significantly greater in seropositive than seronegative subjects. No differences were observed between HIV-1 and HIV-2 positive subjects. About 26% of HIV-seropositive subjects and ab out 5% of the seronegative subjects exhibited at least one site with c oncurrent PD greater than or equal to 6 mm and CAL greater than or equ al to 6 mm. HIV-associated periodontal lesions were seen in 3 HIV-sero positive subjects (2 linear gingival erythema, 1 necrotizing periodont itis). One HIV-seronegative subject exhibited necrotizing gingivitis. In this population with multiple risks to oral health, both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections were associated with a significantly increased preval ence of periodontal disease.