Subgingival microflora in adolescent females with polycystic ovary syndrome and its association with oral hygiene, gingivitis, and selected metabolic and hormonal parameters

Abstract

Objectives: Research studies suggest that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may influence the composition of the oral microflora in women. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting the number of selected periopathogens in a young cohort of females with PCOS and to assess the association between oral hygiene, subgingival microbiome, gingival health, and metabolic and hormonal parameters.

Materials and methods: Thirty-two subjects with PCOS and twenty-three healthy controls aged 15-19 years were examined periodontally by a calibrated dentist. A real-time PCR method was used for the identification of 9 subgingival microorganisms. Subjects with PCOS underwent blood tests for determination of FSH, LH, total testosterone, DHEA-S, estradiol, SHBG, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and lipid profile.

Results: Gingival index (GI), the proportion of bleeding sites (BOP%), probing depth (PD), and plaque index (PLI) did not differ significantly between cases and healthy age-mates. The control group had significantly higher levels of Peptostreptococcus micros and substantially greater percentage of subjects infected by Treponema denticola. Capnocytophaga gingivalis count was positively correlated with the level of estradiol, while the concentration of HDL-C was negatively correlated with the number of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and orange complex bacteria.

Conclusions: PCOS in young patients was not associated with higher pathogenicity of subgingival biofilms.

Clinical relevance: Further studies are needed to explain the relationship between hormonal and metabolic abnormalities, subgingival microflora, and periodontal health in patients with PCOS.

Keywords: Gingivitis; Insulin resistance; Lipid profile; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Subgingival microflora.