Oral immune activation and alveolar bone loss in postmenopausal women and men living with HIV
Name: Isaac K. Donkor
School: College of Dental Medicine, Class of 2024
Mentors: Michael T. Yin, MD, MS and Sunil Wadhwa, DDS
Abstract
This study focused on the association between age and sex on periodontal outcomes in HIV positive individuals. With effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-infected women are now surviving long enough to transition through menopause. Menopause itself is associated with increased alveolar bone loss so HIV-infected postmenopausal women may be at an even greater risk of periodontal disease progression. Although it is known that cART has decreased the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease, few studies have included postmenopausal women. It has also been seen that men appear to have a higher prevalence of periodontal disease than women at all ages. There are however, very few studies published on sex-differences in periodontal disease among HIV-infected individuals. In order to measure the degree of inflammation and periodontal disease, subjects underwent collection of blood samples, gingival cervical fluid (GCF), and plaque. Subjects also received a comprehensive periodontal exam, oral radiographs, and cone beam computed topographies (CBCTs) of their alveolar bone were taken. The blood samples and GCF will be analyzed via ELISA assay and the oral radiographs and CBCTs will be analyzed via Bone J. Results and conclusions of the study are pending.