Abstract
Objectives: Our specific aim was to evaluate the relationships of thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis and hyperlipidemia with alveolar osteonecrosis of the jaws in 88 patients with chronic jaw pain who had failed to respond to conventional medical and dental treatments.
Study Design: In the temporal order of referral, we evaluated 88 patients with persistent idiopathic facial pain to assess whether and to what degree thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis and hyperlipidemia were pathoetiologic for biopsy proven alveolar osteitis-necrosis.
Results: Of the 88 cases, 14 (16 percent) had Factor V Leiden heterozygosity compared to 2 of 109 (2 percent) healthy controls without jaw disease, p=.0004. Fasting plasma triglycerides were ≥ the Lipid Research Clinics population prevalence 90th percentile, in 18 of 53 cases vs. 10/100 LRC controls, p= 0.0007.
Conclusions: In 88 cases with chronic jaw pain/osteonecrosis, there were significant associations with thrombophilic Factor V Leiden and high triglyceride levels. We speculate that these two treatable disorders may have compromised previous conventional dental and medical treatments but also bone healing after surgery intended to eliminate the alveolar osteitis-necrosis. Together, they may provide a treatable “double-hit” impairing the jaw’s vascular system: thrombosis as well as atherosclerosis.
Recommended Citation
(2025)
"Factor V Leiden Heterozygosity and Hypertriglyceridemia in 88 Patients With Chronic Jaw Pain and Alveolar Osteonecrosis,"
Journal IDA: Vol. 104:
Iss.
2, Article 10.
Available at:
https://commons.ada.org/journal-ida/vol104/iss2/10