Mechanism of drug-induced gingival overgrowth revisited: A unifying hypothesis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract
Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is a disfiguring side effect of anti-convulsants, calcineurin inhibitors, and calcium channel blocking agents. A unifying hypothesis has been constructed which begins with cation flux inhibition induced by all three of these drug categories. Decreased cation influx of folic acid active transport within gingival fibroblasts leads to decreased cellular folate uptake, which in turn leads to changes in matrix metalloproteinases metabolism and the failure to activate collagenase. Decreased availability of activated collagenase results in decreased degradation of accumulated connective tissue which presents as DIGO. Studies supporting this hypothesis are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Brown, R. S. and Arany, P. R., "Mechanism of drug-induced gingival overgrowth revisited: A unifying hypothesis" (2015). College of Dentistry Faculty Publications. 72.
https://dh.howard.edu/dent_fac/72
