Association Between Periodontitis andRheumatoid Arthritis in Haj Alsafi TeachingHospital, Khartoum State, Sudan2022-2023

Ziryab Imad Taha Mahmoud¹, Amna Osman Eltigani Mahmoud², Abdelrahman Magzoub³, Tarig Alhadi Madibbo Ahmed⁴

Abstract

 Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to progressive destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth and has been increasingly linked to systemic inflammatory conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent synovitis, systemic inflammation, and progressive joint damage, and growing evidence suggests a biological and clinical overlap between these two conditions. This hospital-based cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis among adults attending Haj Alsafi Teaching Hospital, Khartoum State, Sudan, during 2022–2023. Adult patients with clinically diagnosed periodontitis were evaluated using structured clinical assessment, laboratory inflammatory and rheumatological markers, and radiological investigations. The analysis focused on describing the prevalence of musculoskeletal manifestations suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis and examining their relationship with the severity of periodontal disease. The findings indicated that a substantial proportion of patients with periodontitis exhibited musculoskeletal symptoms consistent with rheumatoid arthritis, and increasing periodontal severity was associated with higher inflammatory and immunological markers. These results support the concept of a clinically relevant link between periodontal inflammation and systemic rheumatologic involvement and highlight the importance of integrated screening approaches in routine clinical practice.

Key words:  Periodontitis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Anti-CCP antibodies, Rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein