Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Aug 1. doi: 10.1007/s10067-025-07593-8. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The objective was to analyze the association of biomarkers with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and systemic inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHOD: The sample included 60 subjects aged 32-65 (82% females), with 30 having RA. Saliva and serum samples were analyzed for interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-18, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Serum was additionally analyzed for calcium, magnesium, phosphate, urates, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). An international diagnostic protocol for TMDs was used.
RESULTS: Subjects with RA had higher salivary IL-4, serum IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, GGT level, and lower calcium (p ≤ 0.015). Correlations between salivary cytokines and matching serum cytokines were significant only for IFN-γ (r = 0.348; p = 0.008). Somatization and depression correlated with serum IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (r = 0.447-0.551; p ≤ 0.012). TMD was more prevalent in RA than in controls (43 vs. 27%). Subjects with RA had a higher orofacial pain intensity, somatization, and depression than those without RA (p ≤ 0.018).
CONCLUSION: Salivary and serum biomarkers were not related to the presence of TMDs in RA. Saliva showed a low potential to reveal the ongoing pathology of RA or TMD. Increased IL-4 and decreased calcium imply control of RA by medications, while increased GGT is linked to systemic inflammation in RA. Key Points • Serum biomarkers more accurately reflect the underlying pathology of RA and TMD than salivary biomarkers. • No specific diagnostic biomarkers were identified that distinguish RA patients with TMDs from those without TMDs.
PMID:40748559 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-025-07593-8
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