Integração de dados clínicos e moleculares na estratificação de pacientes com doença periodontal

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of
multifactorial etiology, caused by dysbiosis of the bacterial biofilm on the gums, affecting the soft tissues, periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. PD is a significant public health challenge due to its prevalence and negative impact on systemic health, being one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults. Risk factors for the development of PD include diabetes, genetics, smoking, uncontrolled gingival and periodontal inflammatory response, stress and an unhealthy diet. This dissertation proposes the molecular analysis and validation of biomarkers, together with the adoption of new stratification criteria, as a new strategy for the practice of precision dentistry. Objective: Quantification of molecular biomarkers in saliva and/or biofilm samples from patients with periodontal health, gingivitis or PD, to improve patient stratification by
integrating the molecular results obtained with the respective clinical data.
Materials and methods: Cross-sectional observational study with 82 patients. It
included questionnaires, periodontal probing, diagnosis and collection of saliva and bioflm. The samples were analyzed by the Salivatec laboratory. The number of DNA copies of periodontopathogenic species was quantified by qPCR, from a representative group of each of the PD diagnoses (including periodontal health and gingivitis), totaling 34 samples. Results: Analysis of the samples revealed that T. denticola was more prevalent in advanced stages of PD (III and IV) and in cases of gingivitis, indicating its relevance in both initial inflammatory processes and severe stages of the disease. F.fastidiosum showed a very significant variation between PD diagnoses, suggesting a strong association with severe stages of the disease. M.timidum showed an association with moderate and advanced stages of PD. Conclusion: The integration of specific molecular biomarkers in the diagnosis, such as F. fastidiosum and T. denticola, in the treatment of PD can provide a precision approach, improving clinical management and the monitoring of patients' periodontal health status.

Date of Award	24 Jul 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Nuno Rosa (Supervisor), Tiago Marques (Co-Supervisor) & Karina Mendes (Co-Supervisor)