PREVALENCE OF GINGIVAL OVERGROWTH INDUCED BY AMLODIPINE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Drug induced gingival overgrowth (GO) is noted with many of the drugs given for non dental uses where the gingival tissue is not the intended target organ. The main drugs causing GO are immunosuppressants, anticonvulsants and some antihypertensive drugs like calcium channel blockers. From 13.5 to 83% prevalence of GO has been reported in antihypertensive drug users in the literature. Amlodipine, a long-acting calcium channel blocker is a commonly used antihypertensive drug. It seems to act on secondary target tissue i.e., gingival connective tissue, causing clinical and histo-pathological findings. The present study was carried out with the aim to determine the prevalence of GO in hypertensive patients receiving amlodipine and also to correlate the extent of GO with the dosage and duration of Amlodipine intake.