Oral microbial dysbiosis linked to worsened periodontal condition in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation. Individuals with RA have a higher risk of periodontitis and periodontitis has been linked to RA through the production of enzymes by periodontal pathogens that citrullinate proteins. This linkage is supported by findings that periodontitis is associated with increased RA severity and treatment of periodontitis can improve the symptoms of RA. The possible mechanism for this association is through dysbiosis of the oral microbiota triggered by RA-induced systemic inflammation. We examined the RA status of subjects by measuring the number of tender and swollen joints, anti-citrullinated protein antibody and rheumatoid factor. Periodontal disease status and salivary cytokine levels were measured, and dental

SUBMITTER: Correa JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6557833 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature