Periodontal Condition in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effect of Anti-rheumatic Drugs.

Abstract

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis are chronic inflammatory diseases with a possible bidirectional relationship. This link may be affected by many factors like drug consumption. PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the periodontal condition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, considering the effect of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This case-control study included 25 newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients with negative history of taking anti-rheumatic drugs, 25 patients who received anti-rheumatic drugs for more than three years and 50 healthy individuals as a control group. Periodontal indices, including plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment loss, and rheumatologic indices were recorded and compared between these groups. RESULTS: = 0.1, r= -0.224). CONCLUSION: Periodontitis and clinical attachment loss were more in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than the healthy group, especially in drug consumers. Gingival index in patients without the history of consuming anti-rheumatic drugs was significantly higher than those who were drug consumers, indicating the effect of the medications on the signs of inflammation.