Salivary Interleukin-6 Levels among Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with and Without Chronic Periodontitis – A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is associated with various systemic diseases one of which is poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a genetically complex endocrinopathy of uncertain etiology affecting women of the reproductive age group which results in the most common cause of anovulatory infertility, menstrual dysfunction, and hirsutism. PCOS has a close association with cardiometabolic risk profile, insulin resistance (IR), hyperinsulinemia, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and increasing the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. The common pathway is the chronic low-grade inflammation which is constituted by pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6. AIM: The aim of the study was to compare salivary IL-6 levels among polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with and without chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Newly diagnosed PCOS patients were selected for the study, and the periodontal parameters were recorded. Group A consists of 42 patients of PCOS with periodontitis and Group B consists of 42 patients of PCOS without periodontitis. Salivary levels of IL-6 were compared between the two groups and were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (bioassay). RESULTS: The mean pocket depth in Group A was 4.23 ± 0.134 and that of Group B was 1.30 ± 0.06. The mean bleeding on probing in Group A was 1.40 ± 0.40 and in Group B it was 0.91 ± 0.18. The mean clinical attachment level in Group A was 4.87 ± 0.124 and that of Group B was 1.30 ± 0.06. The mean difference in clinical parameters was statistically significant between the groups (P ≤ 0.001). IL-6 level in group A is 102.59 ± 18.2 and in Group B it was 51.3 ± 25.3. CONCLUSION: Salivary IL-6 levels show a double-fold increase in PCOS with periodontitis than in PCOS without periodontitis. This study reflects the importance of periodontal health and the prevention of periodontal disease so as to minimize IR in PCOS patients with periodontitis.