[Relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To study a population of rheumatoid arthritis patients and determine the extent of periodontal disease in these patients, in order to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
The experimental group was composed of 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the control group consisted of 70 age- and gender-matched individuals without rheumatoid arthritis. The relationship between periodontal status in rheumatoid arthritis and control groups as well as the relationship between periodontal status and rheumatological findings in patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
The percentage of periodontal disease was statistically significant between experimental and control group (P < 0.01). The difference of average number of missing teeth and bleeding on probing in the experimental group and control group were not statistically significant (P >0.05). There were more number of periodontal disease index 5 or 6 in experimental group than in control group ( P < 0.05). Rheumatoid arthritis patients with moderate to severe bone loss had deeper degree of morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels and serum C-reactive protein levels than patients with no or mild bone loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to experience periodontal disease compares to healthy subjects. They are also very likely to suffer from moderate to severe periodontitis.
Zhang
Dai-zun
DZ
Dept of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Qingdao University, China.
Zhong
De-yu
DY
Deng
Jing
J
Wang
Ji-bo
JB
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases; D010518:Periodontitis
D002097:C-Reactive Protein