Periodontitis in Italian patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

To assess the prevalence and severity of periodontitis (P) among Italian patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A full-mouth periodontal examination and a rheumatologicexamination were performed. RA disease activitywas scoredusing the DAS28. Serum analyses investigated levels of rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinatedprotein antibodies(ACPAs), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen. Information concerning smoking, body mass index and RA medical therapy was collected. Data were analysed by Student's t test, chi-square test, binary logistic regression and Spearman's rank. This cross-sectional study included 120 subjects, 77 had both diseases while 43 only had RA. The number of teeth present was statistically lower in the RA-P compared to the RA group (p<.05). There were statistically more subjects seropositive for ACPAs in theRA-Pgroup (62.3% vs. 32.6%,p<.05). RA-P patients hadan adjusted OR=2.9 of presenting a moderate-severe DAS28 score (DAS28≥3.2). Higher prevalence of severeP was noted among RA subjects. The clinical severity of RA was strongly correlated with the clinical periodontal parameters, and RA subjects alsoaffected by Phad an OR of 2.9 for presenting with a moderate-severe RA (DAS28 score≥3.2).