This study is performed to evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum levels of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17E, IL-17F, IL-17A/F, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis (OPR), and those who are systemically healthy (SH), all with periodontal disease.
GCF and serum samples were obtained before any periodontal intervention from 17 women with RA, 19 with OPR, and 13 who were SH with periodontitis. Full-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. sRANKL, OPG, and IL-17 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Clinical periodontal measurements were similar in the three study groups. Although the total amounts of GCF albumin, OPG, IL-17A, and IL-17A/F were similar in the study groups, there were statistically significant differences in GCF concentrations of sRANKL, OPG, IL-17A, IL-17E, IL-17F, and IL-17A/F. The sRANKL/OPG ratios were significantly higher in the RA group than in the OPR and SH groups (P <0.05). Serum sRANKL, sRANKL/OPG, and IL-17A/IL-17E ratios were significantly higher, whereas OPG concentrations were significantly lower in the RA group compared to other groups (P <0.05). Serum IL-17A concentrations were significantly higher in the RA and OPR groups than in the SH group (P <0.05).
Increased inflammatory mediator levels in patients with RA, despite the long-term use of various anti-inflammatory drugs, suggest that these patients may have a propensity to overproduce these inflammatory mediators.