Periodontal and hematological characteristics associated with aggressive periodontitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Periodontitis shares several clinical and pathogenic characteristics with chronic arthritis, and there is some degree of coexistence. The aims of this study were to elucidate whether patients with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP), generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) share periodontal and hematological characteristics distinguishing them from individuals free of diseases.


METHODS
The study population consisted of white adults (<or=35 years old) with LAgP (N=18), GAgP (N=27), JIA (N=10), RA (N=23), and healthy controls (N=25). All individuals underwent a standardized interview, blood sampling, and an intraoral examination, including registration of plaque, bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and alveolar bone loss (ABL) on radiographs. Blood samples were analyzed for erythrocyte fraction, leukocytes and differential counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgA rheumatoid factors (RFs), and antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides.


RESULTS
RA patients had a higher percentage of sites with PD>or=4 mm, CAL>or=2 mm, and ABL>or=2 mm compared to controls. The percentage of sites with CAL>or=2 mm significantly correlated with the levels of IgM-RF and IgA-RF. Missing teeth in JIA and RA patients were not lost due to periodontitis. Patients with GAgP showed higher levels of leukocytes, including neutrophils, and CRP compared to controls. In part, JIA and RA patients showed similar results.


CONCLUSIONS
Young adults with RA may develop periodontal destruction, and these patients require professional attention. Both differences and similarities in periodontal and hematological variables were seen in individuals with periodontitis, JIA, and RA.
Havemose-Poulsen
Anne
A
Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, and Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen County Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. ah@odont.ku.dk
Westergaard
Jytte
J
Stoltze
Kaj
K
Skjødt
Henrik
H
Danneskiold-Samsøe
Bente
B
Locht
Henning
H
Bendtzen
Klaus
K
Holmstrup
Palle
P
D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000145:classification; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor