AB0679 IMPACT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ON PERIODONTAL HEALTH: FINDINGS FROM A TRANSVERSAL STUDY
Authors: L. Taoubane, H. Elhani, M. Abderrahim, N. El Ouardi, H. Toufik, A. El Maghraoui, A. Bezza
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Recent researches suggest strong links between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and oral health, particularly periodontal status. The implications of this interrelationship transcend the rheumatological field, impacting patients' overall quality of life. Despite the existence of theoretical hypotheses, a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms and clinical consequences remains crucial to guide management strategies. <h3>Objectives:</h3> Our aim is to evaluate the relationship between periodontal status and rheumatoid arthritis activity. <h3>Methods:</h3> This cross-sectional study involved patients being treated for RA diagnosed according to ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria. The osteoarticular and oral examination was exhaustive, including a thorough clinical assessment of periodontal status, with measurement of the Russell Periodontal Index (RPI) and mean decay for all participants. <h3>Results:</h3> A total of 90 patients were included in the study. All were female, with a mean age of 56.5 ± 13.43 years. Periodontal assessment revealed a significantly higher mean Russell periodontal index (RPI) in patients with increased rheumatoid arthritis inflammatory activity (mean RPI = 2.5 ± 0.3, p &lt; 0.05). On the other hand, mean loosening was more pronounced in participants with prolonged disease duration (mean loosening = 4.2 ± 0.6 mm, p &lt; 0.01). The presence of comorbidities was significantly associated with periodontal deterioration (p &lt; 0.01). Multiple regression models confirmed that anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity were significant predictors of periodontal deterioration (p &lt; 0.001). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> This study provides tangible data on the links between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal health. Results suggest that inflammatory activity, disease duration, treatments and the presence of comorbidities do significantly influence periodontal deterioration. These findings highlight the importance of an individualized approach to the clinical management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with potential implications for medical and dental practice. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Varshney S, Sharma M, Kapoor S, Siddharth M. Association between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis in an adult population – A cross sectional study. J Clin Exp Dent [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Jan 13];e980–6. Available from: http://www.medicinaoral.com/medoralfree01/aop/57562.pdf [2] Li R, Tian C, Postlethwaite A, Jiao Y, Garcia-Godoy F, Pattanaik D, et al. Rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease: What are the similarities and differences? Int J of Rheum Dis [Internet]. 2017 Dec [cited 2024 Jan 13];20(12):1887–901. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1756-185X.13240 <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> The authors would like to thank thank the dental surgeons and patients who agreed to participate in this study. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>