Abstract

Background: Gingival hyperplasia is a common complication of immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine A (CyA). However, the association of CyA with increased tissue concentrations of TGF- β1, a potential causative factor of hyperplasia, remains unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of TGF- β1 and IL-2 on the development and maintenance of gingival hyperplasia in patients treated with CyA after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT).
Material/Methods: Gingival hyperplasia was indexed in 60 patients, in accordance with McGraw and Potter scale. Patients were divided and comparisons were made among 3 groups: Group A (18 patients; 49.0±12.1 y/o) after OHT with gingival hyperplasia (score 1, 2, 3), Group B (12 patients; 40.0±15.1 y/o) after OHT without gingival hyperplasia (score 0), and Group C – the control group – (30 patients; 42.0±10.8 y/o) with clinically healthy paradentium. Cytokines (TGF- β1 and IL-2) were marked in gingival tissue homogenate. The concentration of CyA was marked in the patients’ blood (Groups A and B).
Results: The highest mean concentration of TGF- β1 was obtained in Group A and the lowest concentration was in the control group. A positive correlation was found between TGF- β1 in gingival tissue and CyA blood concentration in Groups A and B.
Conclusions: TGF- β1 is associated with gingival hyperplasia in patients treated with CyA after OHT procedure.

Keywords: Heart Transplantation, Cyclosporine-A, Gingival Hyperplasia, transforming growth factor beta 1, Interleukin-2