title: Salivary TNFα levels in groups of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Ehsan B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Gamel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. nadatawfig@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nada T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: University of Science and Technology, Omdurman, Sudan.
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satti
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Bakri G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gismalla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014070:Tooth; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Periodontitis; Rheumatoid arthritis; TNF-α