Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment Combined With Anti-TNF-α in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease of the periodontium that can lead to destruction of the alveolar bone and supporting connective tissue and subsequent tooth loss. Recent studies have shown that periodontitis is associated with age, smoking habits, genetic predisposition, socioeconomic status, and various systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, obesity, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that primarily affects the joints. Periodontitis and RA have similar clinical and pathogenic features. Clinically, both diseases are characterized by local destruction of hard and soft tissues. Their pathogenesis involves the release of cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) from inflammatory cells. Expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) leads to the release of high levels of inflammatory mediators that cause bone destruction and the spread of inflammation. TNF-α is the main regulatory cytokine in both RA and periodontitis. TNF-α inhibitors (anti-TNF-α) reduce the number of inflammatory cells, osteoclast formation and bone loss. In addition, many immunological processes have been identified that are similar to both diseases. Autoreactive T cells, natural killer cells, heat shock proteins, autoantibodies and genetic factors are reported to play an important role in the inflammatory pathway of RA and periodontitis.

Recently, TNF-α blocking agents (anti-TNF-α) have been developed and used for the treatment of RA. Animal and human studies have suggested that anti-TNF-α treatment may reduce the severity of periodontitis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment combined with anti-TNF-α on alveolar bone loss and oxidative stress in individuals with RA and periodontitis.