Periodontal disease in HIV-infected patients in relation to lymphocyte subsets and specific micro-organisms.

Visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding index (GBI) and pocket depth (PD) were analyzed in relation to potential periodontal pathogenic microorganisms and peripheral numbers of T4+ and T8+ lymphocyte subsets in 10 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, 10 patients with AIDS related complex (ARC) and 10 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). 10 healthy persons served as controls. Periodontal disease in patients with more advanced stages of HIV infection were related to the severity of the systemic disease, and to decreasing numbers of T4+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood, but not to VPI or the occurrence of periodontal pathogenic micro-organisms.