Association between Marfan syndrome and oral health status: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Prevalence of Periodontitis among Patients Diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Samples of Healthy Patients

Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition caused by a bacterial plaque and characterized by progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus. Patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) exhibit a connective tissue disorder, which can also affect oral soft and hard tissue. Thus, the aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess the association between periodontitis and MFS and secondly, to compare periodontal parameters and prevalence of disease with a control group (CG) without MFS. 152 patients ( $\text{MFS}=76,\text{CG}=76$ ) were recruited to evaluate the following periodontal parameters: probing depth, gingival margin, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and bleeding on probing. The 2017 World Workshop guideline was followed for the diagnosis of the periodontal status. A multivariate analysis was performed using a multinomial logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, and smoking. The level of significance required was $p<0.05$ . Patients with MFS did not show a higher prevalence of periodontitis compared to the CG. However, patients with MFS did have higher values in probing depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, and plaque index compared to the CG patients ( $p<0.05$ ). In conclusion, although similar prevalence of periodontitis was found among the studied groups, MFS patients showed worse periodontal parameters.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Palatal Morphology, and Aortic Dilatation in Marfan Syndrome Growing Subjects: A Retrospective Study

The main cause of mortality in Marfan syndrome (MS) is aortic disease. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in MS, and it is also associated with cardiovascular risk and maxillary deformities. The aim of this research was to analyze the possible relations between OSA, palatal morphology, and aortic root diameters in growing subjects. A group of 15 growing subjects with MS and a control group of healthy peers was selected. All of them underwent nocturnal polygraphic monitoring, digital dental casts, and transthoracic echocardiography. The results showed that OSA indexes and aortic diameters were significantly higher in the study group. Transversal palatal dimension was smaller in MS patients. Moreover, OSA severity was not related with maxillary contraction severity in MS. No correlation between OSA severity and increased aortic diameters occurred. A high prevalence of OSA, increased aortic dimensions, and significant contraction of palatal dimensions were observed in MS compared with the control group. None of these single factors may directly be associated with aortic dilation, but together, they might contribute to the development and progression of aortic aneurysm from a young age.