Periodontitis, Cardiovascular Disease and Fetuin A: A Triad

Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases are two most common and related pathologies which may aggravate each other’s pathophysiological impact. Long standing periodontitis leads to a systemic inflammatory response which elicits as well as exacerbates the cardiovascular disease process in the body. Fetuin A is an anti-inflammatory and anti-calcification glycoprotein, the levels of which decrease with ongoing inflammation in the body. Diminished Fetuin A levels due to persistent periodontitis, may promote inflammation and calcification which can predispose to multiple cardiovascular outcomes. Therefore the purpose of this literature review was to critically analyse the studies regarding Fetuin A, periodontal inflammation and cardiovascular diseases and find out a possible relationship between them. The studies published from the year 1976-2020 were reviewed for this article using Google Scholar, Pubmed, Research Gate & Semantic Scholar search engines using key words Periodontitis & Fetuin A, Fetuin A, Alpha-2- Heremans Schmid Glycoprotein, pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, periodontitis and CVD, CVD and Fetuin A, etc. It can hence be concluded from this review article that Fetuin A glycoprotein has a protective effect on the body owing to its anti-inflammatory and anti-calcification properties. It also advocates that decreased levels of Fetuin A can be used as a potential diagnostic tool to assess the predisposing risk of cardiovascular diseases affected by calcification and inflammatory process in the body.