Antirheumatic Medication and Salivary MMP-8, a Biomarker for Periodontal Disease

Objectives: To analyze matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -8 levels and MMP-8/ TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor for MMPs) ratio in saliva from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to find out the possible effect of antirheumatic medication with respect to periodontal inflammatory burden.
Methods: Salivary MMP-8 levels were measured by an immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) and TIMP-1 levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from 53 patients with early RA, naïve to synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and 28 patients with chronic RA, candidates for biologic DMARDs. As controls 43 participants without RA were examined. Periodontal inflammatory burden was evaluated by the number of periodontal deep pocket depth (≥4mm) and by periodontal inflammatory burden index (PIBI). Examinations were conducted twice for patients with RA and once for controls.
Results: Salivary MMP-8 and MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio correlated positively with PIBI in patients with chronic RA and in controls. Salivary MMP-8 levels were higher at the early stage of RA disease. The used DMARDs, synthetic or biologic, did not affect salivary MMP-8 concentrations.
Conclusions: The use of synthetic or biologic DMARDs did not affect salivary MMP-8 in patients with RA regardless the disease stage.