Periodontitis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis: a comparative study.
BACKGROUND
This investigation was designed to determine and compare the distribution pattern of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the presence or absence of periodontal disease.


METHODS
Sera of 30 patients with SLE and 30 with RA were tested for ANCA utilizing an indirect enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) directed to a neutrophil granular extract and 6 neutrophil granule proteins. A control group of 20 healthy individuals showing neither evidence of periodontal disease nor systemic compromise was also included in this study.


RESULTS
For RA, the number of ANCA-positive sera was very low but was evenly distributed among patients with and without periodontitis. Conversely, a high number of ANCA-positive sera in SLE was found mostly in individuals presenting periodontal compromise. A statistically significant association between ANCA and periodontitis in SLE patients was found (P <0.005, chi square test).


CONCLUSIONS
A marked difference in the number and distribution of ANCA with respect to periodontitis between RA and SLE was found. Hyperresponsiveness of B cells and polyclonal B activation to periodontopathic bacteria in SLE might be accountable for the high numbers of ANCA and the close association observed between those autoantibodies and periodontitis in SLE.
Novo
E
E
Immunobiology Laboratory, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. enovo@iamnet.com
Garcia-MacGregor
E
E
Viera
N
N
Chaparro
N
N
Crozzoli
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000032:analysis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D056649:Cathepsin G; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000276:immunology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000276:immunology; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D053146:Myeloblastin; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001324:Autoantigens; D009195:Peroxidase; D009113:Muramidase; D002403:Cathepsins; D007781:Lactoferrin; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C534094:CTSG protein, human; D056649:Cathepsin G; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D053146:Myeloblastin