Ankylosing spondylitis increases the risk of periodontal disease

NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Dec 28 - Ankylosing spondylitis increases the risk of periodontal disease, German researchers report in the January issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Lead author Dr. Nicole Pischon and colleagues at Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin note that both diseases are characterized by dysregulation of the host inflammatory response, resulting in soft and hard connective tissue destruction.

To look for a possible relationship, the researchers studied 48 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 48 healthy matched controls.

They defined periodontal disease as a mean attachment loss of more than 3 mm.

After adjustment for such factors as age, weight, alcohol or tobacco use, and duration and severity of ankylosing spondylitis, the patients had a significant 6.81-fold increased risk of periodontal disease.

After further adjustment for plaque accumulation, the odds ratio fell to 5.48 but remained significant.

Commenting on the findings by email, Dr. Pischon told Reuters Health that there appears to be an "increased risk of periodontal attachment loss among patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Although this relationship needs further investigation, rheumatologists should counsel their patients regarding possible oral complications, to diminish morbidity for these individuals."

Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:34-38.

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