We examined a possible link between periodontal disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by studying resected aneurysmal specimens from AAA patients for the presence of periodontopathic bacteria. Prospective case control study. Thirty-two AAA patients were enrolled in the study. Periodontitis was classified according to the probing depth of periodontal pocket. Thirty-two aneurysmal walls, 16 mural thrombi, 5 atherosclerotic occlusive aorta and 5 control arterial tissue, were examined for 7 periodontal bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The localization of the bacteria in the aneurysmal/atherosclerotic wall was determined by thromboendarterectomy. All patients had periodontal disease, and most cases were severe. PCR examination of the aneurysmal specimens showed that 86% were positive for periodontal bacterial DNA. No bacteria were detected in the control specimens. The bacteria were found in both the intimal/medial layer and the adventitial layer of the aneurysmal wall but only in intimal/medial layer of the atherosclerotic occlusive aorta. Periodontopathic bacteria were present in a high percentage of specimens of diseased arteries from AAA patients and were found throughout the whole aneurysmal wall. These bacteria may play a role in the development of AAAs and/or contribute to weakening the aneurysmal wall.
