OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) + 1444C/T, CRP+1059G/C polymorphisms and chronic periodontitis (CP) in a Han Chinese population.

METHODSClinical periodontal parameters [attachment loss (AL) probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP)], and serum CRP levels were examined in CP patients (n = 126) and healthy subjects (n = 113).

RESULTSThe mean serum CRP level [(1.74 ± 1.67) mg/L] was significantly higher in the CP group than in the control group [(0.57 ± 0.39) mg/L], P < 0.001. In the control group, serum CRP levels were significantly lower in subjects with the CRP +1059 GC and CC genotypes than those with the CRP +1059 GG genotype (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between genotypes in the CP group. In CP and the control groups, serum CRP levels were significantly higher in subjects with the CRP + 1444 CT and TT genotypes compared to those with the CRP + 1444 CC genotype (P < 0.5). The percentage of CRP + 1059 C allele was 6.7% (17/252) in the CP group and 4.9% (11/226) in the control group. The percentage of CRP + 1444 T allele was 6.3% (16/252) in the CP group and 5.3% (12/226) in the control group (P > 0.5). There was no significant difference between groups in both allele frequencies (P > 0.5). The association of CRP + 1059G/C, CRP + 1444 C/T polymorphisms with CP was not found in a regression model (P > 0.5).

CONCLUSIONSThe presence of a CRP + 1059C-allele was associated with lower serum CRP levels and the presence of a CRP + 1444T-allele was associated with higher serum CRP levels. However, the data suggested that CRP + 1059G/C, CRP + 1444 C/T polymorphisms were not significantly associated with serum CRP levels of chronic periodontitis patients in ethnic Han Chinese.