By Diagnostics World News Staff
October 19, 2022 | A University of Birmingham research team is developing a rapid diagnostic test for gum disease, a tool they foresee assisting in the early detection of heart and lung disease, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, results from infections in the gums and bones around the base of the teeth, igniting systemic inflammation and a high probability of disease formation in other organs.
Unfortunately, these diseases have the potential to exacerbate one another. For example, type 2 diabetes increases the risk of heart failure. Rheumatoid arthritis—a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by painful joint swelling—heightens the severity of nearly every comorbidity. Likewise, lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, increase disease severity due to a significant decrease in cellular oxygen supply.
Recognizing that gum disease is often the foundation upon which many other diseases are built, the University of Birmingham team created a probe that rapidly and accurately detects the presence and extent of gum disease from a simple saliva sample.
“We believe the device we are prototyping will be the first dental probe that can identify periodontal disease in this way. It will detect periodontitis quickly and easily in a variety of healthcare settings, opening up opportunities for monitoring and early intervention in the patients with comorbid disease, who would benefit most from rapid treatment for periodontitis,” said Tim Albrecht, Ph. D., University of Birmingham chemistry professor, in a press release.
The probe uses quantitative mass spectrometry proteomics to identify protein biomarkers for gingivitis, periodontitis, and other oral diseases (Journal of Clinical Periodontology, DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13630. Epub 2022 Apr 29).
“The ability to detect and profile disease biomarkers in real time will allow monitoring for disease severity, and in particular the transition between milder and more severe forms of gum disease. This will benefit not only dental health but also reduce costs and capture patients for whom periodontal treatment may—in the long run—be lifesaving,” said Dr. Melissa Grant, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry associate professor.