The influence of oral infections, especially periodontal disease, on systemic diseases has been extensively discussed in the literature. Because periodontal disease is a persistent infection, it promotes an inflammatory response. C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammatory reactions that is frequently studied, since elevated levels of this protein are related to coronary events. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of periodontal therapy on reducing the serum levels of C-reactive protein, by means of a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of the English-language literature was conducted in the PUBMED-MEDLINE database, using the key words "periodontal disease", "C-reactive protein", "periodontal therapy" and "periodontal treatment", in accordance with the terms for Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), to evaluate the effect of periodontal therapy on C-reactive protein levels. A qualitative analysis of studies of randomized clinical trial design was performed using CONSORT, with subsequent meta-analysis. RESULTS: The literature search initially retrieved 46 potentially relevant studies available in the databases. From these, in accordance with the inclusion criteria, only 11 were selected, of which only 4 fulfilled the criteria of randomized clinical trial design. According to CONSORT, the studies evaluated generally presented good quality with regard to the criteria analyzed. Through meta-analysis, the reduction in mean levels of C-reactive protein (-0.231; p=0.000) after introducing periodontal treatment was estimated. The result was statistically significant, without evidence of heterogeneity between the studies (p=0.311). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that non-surgical periodontal treatment had a positive effect with regard to reduction of the serum levels of C-reactive protein.

OBJETIVO: Proteína C-Reativa (PCR) é um marcador de inflamação presente no plasma cujos níveis podem se elevar devido a um processo inflamatório, ocasionando um maior risco a eventos cardiovasculares, como o Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio. A doença periodontal promove uma resposta imuno-inflamatória do hospedeiro, contribuindo com níveis mais elevados de PCR, esclarecendo sua associação com a doença cardiovascular. Objetivou-se neste estudo verificar o efeito da terapia periodontal nos níveis desse marcador inflamatório. METODOLOGIA: A amostra constou de 62 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, com faixa etária entre 30 e 60 anos, encaminhados para tratamento odontológico na Fundação Bahiana para Desenvolvimento das Ciências, e distribuídos entre dois grupos: com e sem periodontite. Os descritores clínicos empregados consistiram de Índice de Sangramento, Recessão Gengival, Profundidade de Sondagem e Nível de Inserção Clínica. Para a análise da PCR foi coletado sangue periférico dos indivíduos e encaminhados a um mesmo laboratório de análises clínicas. RESULTADOS: O grupo com periodontite foi tratado e os resultados mostraram que houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os níveis de PCR antes e após o tratamento periodontal (P<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: De acordo com os achados finais, pode-se concluir que a terapia periodontal não cirúrgica apresentou uma tendência de redução dos níveis séricos da PCR.

PURPOSE: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation that is naturally present in the plasma at levels that may rise due to inflammatory processes, associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction. Periodontal disease is responsible for a host immune-inflammatory response, contributing towards clarifying its association with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of periodontal therapy on the levels of this inflammatory marker. METHODS: The sample consisted of 62 patients of both genders, between the ages of 30 to 60 years, who were referred to dental treatment at the Bahia Foundation for the Development of Sciences, and they were divided into two groups: with and without periodontitis. The clinical descriptors used were the bleeding index, gingival recession, probing depth and clinical attachment level. For CRP analysis, peripheral blood was collected from these individuals and sent to a single clinical analysis laboratory. RESULTS: The group with periodontitis was treated and the results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the CRP levels before and after periodontal treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: From the final findings, it may be concluded that non-surgical periodontal therapy showed a tendency to reduce the CRP serum levels.