Is There a Similarity in Serum Cytokine Profile between Patients with Periodontitis or 2019-Novel Coronavirus Infection?—A Scoping Review

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This scoping review highlights the immune-related similarities between the COVID-19 infection and periodontal disease, especially focusing on serum cytokine levels, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Overall, higher IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF- α levels were reported in COVID-19-infected patients compared to patients with periodontitis. However, most of the included studies indicated elevated serum pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) levels in diseases (COVID-19/periodontitis) compared to healthy controls included in the same study. This shows the strong immunopathogenic role of these proinflammatory cytokines in the rationale and progressive destruction of these two conditions, and this review aims to highlight the role of a robust immune response in inflammation progression and to educate the readers about the importance of oral hygiene during the pandemic era. ABSTRACT: On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared a global emergency as a result of the ‘novel coronavirus infection’, which emerged from Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread across international borders. There is vast evidence that supports a direct link between oral cavities and this systemic circulation, but it is still unclear if oral conditions like periodontitis influenced the COVID-19 disease outcome. This scoping review highlights the fact that both periodontitis and COVID-19 independently increase serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, however there is a lack of documentation on if this biochemical profile synergizes with COVID-19 and/or periodontal severity in the same individuals. The purpose of this scoping review is to accumulate existing data on the serums IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in COVID-19 and periodontitis patients and check if periodontitis negatively impacts the COVID-19 outcome, educating the population about the implications of COVID-19-related complications on their oral health, and vice versa, and motivating patients towards oral hygiene maintenance.