Salivary TNFα levels in groups of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis

• Published in: BMC research notes 2017-01, Vol.10 (1), p.34-34, Article 34
• Main Authors: Gamel, Ehsan B, Hashim, Nada T, Satti, Asim, Gismalla, Bakri G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - metabolism; Chronic Periodontitis - metabolism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Plaque Index; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontal Index; Saliva - chemistry; Sex Factors; Short Report; Tooth; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - chemistry
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2341-7

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis are the most common chronic inflammatory diseases with significant pathological and clinical similarities. Numerous studies have indicated a relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to compare the TNF-α levels in saliva among patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis as well as healthy subjects. One hundred and seventy-one patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Fifty-seven patients diagnosed of RA, 57 patients with chronic periodontitis and 57 healthy subjects. These patients have been examined with regard to TNF-α level from salivary samples. Their teeth were examined with regard to Plaque Index , Gingival Index, probing depth and clinical attachment level.All patients were non-smokers. The results revealed a significant difference in all periodontal parameters among the three groups. The chronic periodontitis group showed a significantly higher value in all clinical periodontal parameters in comparison to both the RA and healthy groups. No significant difference was found between salivary TNF-α level among the three study groups. Patients with chronic periodontitis had the highest periodontal indices. However there was no significant difference regarding the level of salivary TNF-α. Hence, suppression of proinflammatory cytokines might prove beneficial in suppressing periodontal diseases among RA patients.