Gingival crevicular fluid and serum levels of APRIL, BAFF and TNF-alpha in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis patients with periodontal disease

WOS: 000325236600005PubMed ID: 24011305Background: This study was performed to evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum levels of a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) and B cell activating factor (BAFF) and compare this to differences between TNF-alpha levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis (OPR) and systemically healthy women with periodontal disease (SH). Design: Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum samples were obtained before any periodontal intervention from 17 RA, 19 OPR patients and 13 SH women with periodontitis. Full-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. APRIL, BAFF and TNF-alpha levels were determined by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate analysis, ANOVA and Spearman correlation. Results: Pocket depths differed in site-specific comparisons, but otherwise clinical measurements were similar in the three study groups. Multivariate least squares regression ANOVA adjusted for age and for plaque index indicated that total amounts of TNF-alpha and concentrations of TNF-alpha, BAFF and APRIL were significantly greater in the RA patients than in the SH group (p < 0.05), and GCF concentrations of BAFF were greater in OPR patients than in SH. Serum TNF-alpha and BAFF were significantly higher in the RA group compared to SH (p <0.05) and serum TNF-alpha was greater in RA than in OPR (p < 0.05). APRIL and BAFF correlated with RANKL levels in GCF and serum (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite long-term usage of anti-inflammatory drugs in the RA and OPR patients, increased TNF-family cytokines, might suggest that these patients have a propensity to overproduce these inflammatory mediators but whether this results from greater disease activity or contribute to greater disease activity remains moot. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Ege University Research Foundation, Izmir, TurkeyEge University [2007 Dis 025]; University of GlasgowThis study was supported by the grant from the Ege University Research Foundation (2007 Dis 025), Izmir, Turkey and by funds from the University of Glasgow