Abstract
Aim: The purpose was to identify if rheumatoid arthritis (RA) influenced levels of salivary biomarkers of periodontal disease. Methods: Biological assessments and periodontal examinations were performed in 15 patients with RA, 10 patients with chronic periodontitis and 11 healthy patients as controls. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were analysed for interleukin-lb (IL-1b) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations. Results: The arthritis and healthy patients had significantly less oral disease than the periodontitis group but the arthritis group had significantly more sites bleeding on probing (BOP) than the control group. Salivary levels of IL-1b were significantly elevated in the periodontal disease group, and IL-1b was the only biomarker with significantly higher levels in the arthritis group compared with control group. Arthritis patients receiving anti- TNF-α antibody therapy had significantly lower IL-lb and TNF-α levels compared with arthritis patients not on the anti-TNF-α therapy and healthy controls, respectively. Conclusion: RA patients have higher levels of periodontal inflammation than healthy control group and also an increased BOP. Systemic inflammation appears to influence levels of selected salivary biomarkers of periodontal disease, and anti-TNF-α therapy significantly modified lowered salivary levels IL-lb and TNF-α levels in RA.
Highlights
The diagnosis of periodontal disease is generally based onthe clinical detection of bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and plaque index (PI), as well as radiographic evidence of bone loss
Salivary levels of IL-1b were significantly elevated in the periodontal disease group, and IL-1b was the only biomarker with significantly higher levels in the periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) groups compared with the control group (Fig. 1)
The RA group had clinical findings less severe than the periodontitis group despite the salivary IL-1b levels being higher in the RA group, suggesting that salivary IL-1b was elevated due to systemic inflammation
Summary
The diagnosis of periodontal disease is generally based onthe clinical detection of bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and plaque index (PI), as well as radiographic evidence of bone loss. RA is a chronic inflammatory disorder that causes soft and hard tissue destruction similar to that shown in periodontal disease.Certain inflammatory mediators such as IL-1b, MMP-8 and TNF-a areelevated in the inflamed joints and serum of patients with RAand as a consequence, is possible that persons with RA or other inflammatory processes in joints could have increased levels of these biomarkers in their saliva. For this reason it seemspossible to identifyperiodontal disease in patients with RA or at risk for RA and to test if RA influences levels of salivary biomarkers of periodontal disease. The aim of this investigation was to identify whether RA influenced levels of salivary biomarkers of periodontal disease
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
