Journal of Odontology
Open Access

Hematopoietic Inflamed Gums Related to the Consumption of Khat

Scott Santarossa^{* *}Correspondence: Scott Santarossa, Department of Operative Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Email:

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Description

Teeth are subjected to a variety of stimuli, such as bacterial, thermal, and physical stimuli. As a consequence, immune cells found in normal dental pulp have been studied, and stimulates immune response. On the flip side of the hand, the connection between inflammatory responses, such as that caused by viral infection, and changes in dental pulp is incompletely understood. The abundance and dynamics of hematopoietic and immune cells in dental pulp, bone marrow, and extracellular fluid have been evaluated in the stable equilibrium and during IFN-l-induced (interferon’s) inflammation. The dental pulp contained only a few hematopoietic cells in the steady state but a greater variety of immune cells than initially disclosed. In the steady state, B cells were also discovered.

During both acute and chronic inflammation, there was an increase in multipotent progenitor cell levels in the dental pulp. During acute inflammation, the increased multipotent progenitor cells in the dental pulp tended to differentiate into the myeloid lineage. In contrast, there was an influx of B cells into the dental pulp during chronic inflammation. This would lead to an important transition in dentists' perspectives on the use of dental pulp in the treatment of systemic diseases.

Plasma cell gingivitis (PCG) is distinguished by a large infiltration of plasma cells into the sub epithelial tissue. It is a rare condition, the cause of which is still unknown. A case of PCG in the mandibular gingiva has been reported, which was most likely caused by chewing khat. It was determined that the changes were consistent with an allergic-like reaction. In a subsequent consultation, the patient, a 30-year-old Somalian immigrant, admitted to using khat on a regular basis. The leaves go into the buccal sulcus. The PCG disappeared after two weeks of not using khat.

Periodontists in Europe and the New World will see an increase in patients who use khat due to increased immigration from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. This means that in the future, intraoral PCG and other khat-related changes will become more common. Chewing the leaves of the khat plant (Cahta edulis) has been practised in East African and Arabian Peninsula countries for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It is comparable to the chewing of betel nuts by Southeast Asians and tobacco by some Americans and Europeans. Kalix conducted extensive research on the chemical constituents of khat leaves and discovered three major alkaloids: chatinone, norpseudoephedrine (chatine), and norephidrine.

Although all three have similar peripheral effects, chatinone (alpha-amino-propriophenone) has a stronger effect on the central nervous system. Chatinone shares sympathomimetic properties with amphetamine. Both release catecholamines from presynaptic nerve endings, which is probably why khat leaves are so popular in these countries. Euphoria, anorexia, insomnia (lack of fatigue), hyperactivity, excitation, hyperthermia, increased respiration, mydriasis, arrhythmias, hypertension, and constipation have all been reported following khat use. The first of these effects, which produces psychological rather than physiological dependence, is the one sought by those addicted to the habit. The first of these effects, which produces psychological rather than physiological dependence, is the one sought by those addicted to the habit.