Immuno-biological Assessments of Temporomandibular Joint Disease in Patients with Immune-mediated Rheumatic Conditions. A cross sectional study of 273 cases

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is commonly involved in various immune-mediated rheumatic disorders accounting for signcant disabik and impaired quak of life. The aim of our study was to assess inflammatory and immune parameters in patients with TMJ arthritis related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA),juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify potential relation with severiy and dysfunction of TMJ pathology. We performed a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 433 consecutive RA, 32 JIA, 258 AS, and 103 PsA. Only patients presenting with clinically significant TMJ involvement (273) related to their rheumatic condition were included in the final analysis. TMJ involvement is traditionally described in chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorders, particularly in patients with higher levels of inflammation as detected in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Disease activity and severity, as well as biological and positive serological assessments (rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, IL-1) remain significant determinants of the severity of TMJ arthritis.