Does a causal relation between cardiovascular disease and periodontitis exist?

Inflammation is believed to play a central part in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and much attention has been paid to the possible association between atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases. Periodontal disease is a common inflammatory disease affecting up to 50% of the adult population, and during the past two decades much research has focused on a possible association between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Here, we review the existing literature on the association between the two diseases. (c) 2011 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.