THE INFLUENCE OF CHLORHEXIDINE ON THE SEVERITY OF CYCLOSPORINE-A-INDUCED GINGIVAL OVERGROWTH

THE INFLUENCE OF CHEMICAL PLAQUE CONTROL, using topically applied 0.12 % chlorhexidine, on the severity of cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced gingiv al overgrowth (GO) was evaluated. Forty Holtzman rats were divided int o four groups: 1) control; 2) cyclosporin A: a 10mg/kg/day subcutaneou s dose of CsA; 3) chlorhexidine: 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) was applied to the buccal surface of the right mandibular molars; and 4) cyclospo rin A/chlorhexidine: a combination of the treatment described for cycl osporin A and chlorhexidine groups. The animals were fed a high sucros e diet during the experiment and were sacrificed after 14 and 21 days. The histometric analysis revealed a significant increase in buccal gi ngival area in the cyclosporin A group compared to other groups (P < 0 .01) after 21 days. The epithelium thickness of the buccal gingiva was significantly increased in the cyclosporin A group, compared to the c ontrol group (P < 0.05). The cyclosporin A/chlorhexidine group exhibit ed statistically significantly lower gingival overgrowth than the cycl osporin A group. These findings, if replicated in human studies, sugge st that topically applied 0.12% chlorhexidine may be a valuable measur e in the management of cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth.