Periodontitis in Italian patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and severity of periodontitis (P) among Italian patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS & METHODS A full-mouth periodontal examination and a rheumatologic examination were performed. RA disease activity was scored using the DAS28. Serum analyses investigated levels of rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen. Information concerning smoking, body mass index and RA medical therapy was collected. Data were analyzed by Student's t test, χ2 test, binary logistic regression and Spearman rank. RESULTS This cross-sectional study included 120 subjects, 77 had both diseases while 43 only had RA. The number of teeth present was statistically lower in the RA-P compared to the RA group (p < 0.05). There were statistically more subjects seropositive for ACPAs in the RA-P group (62.3% versus 32.6%, p < 0.05). RA-P patients had an adjusted OR = 2.9 of presenting a moderate-severe DAS28 score (DAS28 ≥ 3.2). CONCLUSIONS Higher prevalence of severe P was noted among RA subjects. The clinical severity of RA was strongly correlated with the clinical periodontal parameters and RA subjects also affected by P had an OR of 2.9 for presenting with a moderate-severe RA (DAS28 score ≥ 3.2).