Assessment of the Biochemical Indicators of Kidney Function in Patients with Gingivitis

Gingivitis, a chronic inflammatory condition of the gums is caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque. While once considered primarily a localised oral disease, recent research indicates that it can also be systemic - especially when associated with systemic inflammatory conditions, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterised by the loss of kidney function, systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation, which may impact on gum inflammation via common pathways. There seems to be a plausible link between oral health and the health of the kidneys, with both diseases sharing features such as increased inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and dysbiosis. The researchers studied 43 women with gingivitis to determine whether there was an association between the gum condition and early indicators of chronic kidney disease (CKD). They examined key biochemical and haematological markers in these patients. To study markers of systemic inflammation and renal disease, we determined the white blood cell (WBC) count, blood urea and serum creatinine concentration in the blood samples. The statistical analysis showed that the white blood cell count at 10.36 × 10³/μL is high, and it may mean that there is systemic inflammation, which may be linked to both gingival and renal disease. This was found to be significantly greater than the test value (P>0.05) despite being in the high-normal range. The average of 2.48 mg/dL of serum creatinine was higher than the recommended value of 1.3 mg/dL which suggests a reduction in glomerular filtration. Moreover, there was a significant impairment in renal function, with the average blood urea level of 40.45 mg/dL, which is well above the normal range of 7-20 mg/dL. These findings support the theory that renal failure and gingivitis go hand in hand, where inflammation in the mouth could worsen systemic immune response and CKD. Or, the destruction of periodontal tissue may be expedited by uremic toxins and immunosuppression in CKD. This study demonstrates that patients with renal disease or at risk of renal disease should receive a dental assessment and treatment.