BACKGROUND

periodontal therapy has been suggested to have systemic effects. However, studies of periodontal therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients have produced controversial results.

AIM

To compare the effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on biochemical markers of rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal parameters in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

a prospective before-and-after study was conducted that included 21 participants without and 29 participants with rheumatoid arthritis. Periodontal parameters, detection, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies were measured at baseline and three months after nonsurgical periodontal therapy and the changes were statistically assessed.

RESULTS

In general, both groups presented statistically significant improvement in periodontal parameters (<0.05). There was an increase in the counts of in both groups at three months. In addition, there was a reduction in levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and rheumatoid factor in participants with rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast, C-reactive protein levels increased in both groups but were higher in the rheumatoid arthritis group. Periodontal parameters in rheumatoid arthritis participants under disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs presented a slightly higher improvement ( <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy has similar improvements in periodontal parameters in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, nonsurgical periodontal therapy may benefit serum levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and rheumatoid factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. NCT04658615.