People with gum disease at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis
Hindustan TimesPeople with increased levels of gum disease are at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis as a new study suggests that it could be a key initiator of RA-related autoimmunity. “Our results support the hypothesis that local inflammation at mucosal surfaces, such as the gums in this case, may provide the primary trigger for the systemic autoimmunity seen in RA,” said co-author Kulveer Mankia of Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine. The study, presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, included 48 at-risk individuals who were tested positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and had musculoskeletal symptoms but no clinical synovitis, 26 patients with RA and 32 healthy controls. However, in at-risk individuals, only Pg was significantly increased at healthy dental sites and was associated with the overall extent of gum disease.
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