[Oral infection and rheumatic diseases]

Periodontitis (PD) is one of the most common infectious diseases of dental attachment. From epidemiological studies there is known association of periodontitis with chronic diseases as for example diabetes mellitus, cardiovacular diseases, atherosclerosis or Crohn disease. In last decade there is an increasing evidence for association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis also. RA and PD have some common genetic, environmental and immunopathological characters. Important aspect of reciprocal relationship is also ability to citrullination, which is innate to one of most important oral patogen - Porphyromonas gingivalis. Citrullination and production of autoantibodies against this modified proteins is one the important pathophysiological actions in course of RA. Recently, there has been published papers drawing attention to potential influence of periodontitis therapy to course and activity of RA. Furthermore there appear some information pointing to possible association between PD and other rheumatic diseases as for exam-ple spondyloarthritis. Interrelationship between PD and rheumatic diseases thus stay important and still open question in research of pathophysiology, course and therapeutic possibilities of rheumatic diseases.