Periodontal bone loss and extensive gingival bleeding in parenchymal liver disease and portal hypertension-A case report.

Bacterial infections are common complicating findings in course of cirrhosis most of them being gram negative. Similarly periodontal pathogens are also mostly gram negative bacteria. Moreover the cirrhotic patients as a consequence of liver dysfunction have elevated levels of serum cytokines. Alcohol may affect periodontal tissues through different mechanisms. There is evidence that alcohol has an adverse effect on host defence. It is associated with complement deficiency, defective neutrophil function and increased frequency of infections. The present case was diagnosed asparenchymal liver disease with portal hypertension showing severe alveolar bone loss, profuse bleeding with abnormal lab findings.

Therefore patients with liver disease should be carefully observed and examined before any clinical treatment. These patients need special attention and hospitalization because of bleeding tendencies. Health practitioners need to beaware that chronic alcoholic patients may be at higher risk of periodontitis and could benefit from advice to quit alcohol andmaintain regular dental visits.