Objective: This observational prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on clinical periodontal measurements and systemic inflammatory mediator levels in low or moderate to highly active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with chronic periodontitis.
Subjects and methods: Rheumatoid arthritis activity was assessed with disease activity score test (DAS28). Thirty patients with RA with moderate to high disease activity (DAS28 ≥ 3.2) and chronic periodontitis (MHDA group) and thirty patients with RA with low disease activity (DAS28 < 3.2) and chronic periodontitis (LDA group) were enrolled in the study. The patients were monitored at the beginning and 3 months after undergoing periodontal therapy. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in serum, DAS28 and periodontal parameters were evaluated.
Results: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, TNF-α levels in serum, DAS28 and periodontal parameters exhibited similar and significant reduction 3 months after the non-surgical periodontal treatment.
Conclusion: Non-surgical periodontal treatment may prove beneficial in reducing RA severity as measured by ESR, CRP, TNF-α levels in serum and DAS28 in low or moderate to highly active RA patients with chronic periodontitis.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.