Antibodies to <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> Indicate Interaction Between Oral Infection, Smoking, and Risk Genes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Etiology

Abstract

Our study suggests that the previously reported link between periodontitis and RA could be accounted for by P gingivalis infection, and we conclude that P gingivalis is a credible candidate for triggering and/or driving autoimmunity and autoimmune disease in a subset of RA patients.