Serum antibodies to periodontal pathogens prior to rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis: A case-control study
Authors' conclusion
No longitudinal elevations of anti-bacterial serum antibody concentrations were observed in RA patients prior to RA diagnosis compared to controls.
Study context
- Population
- Serum samples from the U.S. Department of Defense Serum Repository, pre- and post-RA diagnosis
- Participants
- 214 vs 210
- Comparison
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases vs matched controls
- RA casesn = 214
- Controlsn = 210reference
- Outcome
- Association between anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis serum antibody concentrations and the risk of developing RA (timing of antibody elevations relative to RA diagnosis, cases vs controls)
Methodological detailsmatched controls, longitudinal pre- and post-diagnosis serum samples, mixed-effects linear regression models
- Matched controls
- Longitudinal pre- and post-diagnosis serum samples
- Mixed-effects linear regression models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Serum anti-P. gingivalis, anti-F. nucleatum and anti-P. intermedia concentrations before RA diagnosis
- No compelling evidence of case-control divergence in serum anti-P. gingivalis, anti-F. nucleatum, and anti-P. intermedia
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Association of anti-P. intermedia with RA autoantibodies among RA cases (all pre-diagnosis samples)
- anti-P. intermedia significantly positively associated with anti-CCP2, ACPA fine specificities (vimentin, histone, alpha-enolase) and IgA RF
- P < 0.001
- anti-P. intermedia significantly positively associated with IgG RF
- P = 0.049
- anti-P. intermedia significantly positively associated with IgM RF
- P = 0.004
- anti-P. gingivalis and anti-F. nucleatum not associated with RA autoantibodies
Original publication
Serum antibodies to periodontal pathogens prior to rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis: A case-control study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 11 February 2023. doi:10.
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