Microcirculatory disturbances of oral mucosa and periodontal disease in patients with liver cirrhosis.

This study showed: (1) The bone score in cirrhotic patients was significantly lower than that in the control group. (2) In liver cirrhosis, capillaries were decreased in number and they were dilated compared to that in the control. In particular, the capillaries in cirrhotic patients with ascites or oesophageal varices were dilated compared to those without. (3) Blood flow of the mucogingival junction was significantly decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis in comparison with the control group. These results suggest that microcirculatory disturbances of oral mucosa are important in the progress of periodontal disease in patients with liver cirrhosis.