World Journal of Dentistry

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VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 1 ( January, 2023 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Evaluation of Salivary Galectin-3 Level and its Potential Role in Increasing the Severity of COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Periodontitis

Nimisha Mithradas, V Shankar Ram, Navina Ravindran, V Devika Warrier, Sherine L Asirvatham, Parthibhan Saket

Keywords : Acute phase proteins, Coronavirus disease 2019, Galectin-3, Periodontitis, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Citation Information : Mithradas N, Ram VS, Ravindran N, Warrier VD, Asirvatham SL, Saket P. Evaluation of Salivary Galectin-3 Level and its Potential Role in Increasing the Severity of COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Periodontitis. World J Dent 2023; 14 (1):3-8.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-2169

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 27-03-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: To evaluate and compare the salivary galectin-3 (Gal-3) level in chronic periodontitis patients, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and patients with COVID-19 + periodontitis and thus determining the risk of periodontitis in increasing the severity of COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods: For the present study, a total of 77 participants were recruited to the study with 20 healthy controls (group I), 20 patients with chronic generalized periodontitis (group II), 19 COVID-19 patients (group III), and 18 with COVID-19 and periodontitis (group IV). Demographic characteristics and periodontal clinical parameters like plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded for all patients. Saliva samples were collected and Gal-3 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis and Tukey's honest significant difference post hoc tests were carried out for data analysis. Results: Group IV patients had a higher concentration of salivary Gal-3 (15.50 ng/mL) than that of group III (10.247 ng/mL) and group II (12.340 ng/mL), and the mean difference in Gal-3 level was statistically significant with the p-value 0.000. The mean PPD, CAL, and PI were significantly high in groups II and IV compared to groups I and II with a p-value of 0.000. Conclusion: The result of the present study showed that patients with periodontitis and periodontitis + COVID-19 presented significant higher salivary Gal-3 levels in comparison with COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. Thus periodontitis can be a risk factor in increasing the severity of COVID-19 infection. Clinical significance: This study was carried out to evaluate whether periodontitis is a risk factor for increasing the severity of COVID-19 infection. This study also highlights the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and periodontal health in preventing COVID-19 severity.


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