Antibody responses to periodontopathic bacteria in relation to rheumatoid arthritis in Japanese adults.

Background: Periodontopathic bacteria have been implicated as contributory to the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) were shown to be associated with RA. This study examines whether serum levels of antibodies to periodontopathic bacteria may affect clinical and laboratory profiles of RA.Methods: The study participants consisted of 80 patients with RA, and 38 age-, sex-, smoking status–, and periodontal condition–balanced healthy controls. After periodontal and rheumatologic examination, serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), and Eikenella corrodens (Ec) and those of anti-CCP antibodies and RF were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Patients with RA showed significantly higher levels of anti–Pg and anti-CCP antibodies than controls (P = 0.04 a...