Herpesviruses in etiopathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis: A meta-analysis based on case-control studies

ObjectivePrevious studies have found that herpesviruses are associated with aggressive periodontitis (AgP). However, these findings are controversial. This meta-analysis was aimed at clarifying the association between herpesviruses and AgP.MethodsWe identified eligible case–control studies evaluating the association between herpesviruses and AgP from PubMed and Embase databases in October 2015. Original data were extracted and quality assessment was done. Overall odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Random-effects model was determined. The stability was evaluated by sensitivity analysis. Finally, Egger’s funnel plot was used to investigate the publication bias.ResultsTwelve case-control studies involving 322 patients and 342 controls were included in the present meta-analysis. The included case-control studies were assessed as high quality. The quantitative synthesis results for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) showed significance (10 studies: p = 0.0008, OR = 6.11, 95% CI = 2.13–17.51); nevertheless, evidence of publication bias for EBV was considerable (EBV: Egger’s test, pp = 0.009, OR = 3.63, 95% CI = 2.15–6.13; 4 studies for HSV-1: pp = 0.20, OR = 3.46, 95% CI = 0.51–23.51).ConclusionThis meta-analysis suggests that HCMV and HSV-1 are significantly associated with AgP. However, due to the heterogeneity among studies these conclusions should be cautiously interpreted. There is insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion between EBV, HSV-2 and AgP based on the currently limited data.