Researchers at the Louisville Dental School in Kentucky (United States) have just discovered a link between the bacteria responsible gingivitis and early onset arthritis as well as faster disease progression. This bacterium, baptized porphyromonas gingivalis, would produce an enzyme which reacts with the residue of certain proteins. The body, seeing these enzymes as intruders, would in turn react, leading to an attack on the immune system. In patients at risk for arthritis, the result is chronic inflammation responsible for the destruction of bone and cartilage in the joints.
“This study confirms what other researchers had already observed, namely that gum disease is at least twice as common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” explains Dr. Jan Potempa of the University of Louisville.
Bringing together many diseases of inflammatory origin (including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout or more simply osteoarthritis), arthritis is a common condition. It causes acute or chronic pain in one or more joints, stiffness and difficult movements. Joint inflammation occurs as a reaction to the presence of a pathogen. The organism then seeks to defend itself in order to neutralize this bacterium or this virus. “Our results suggest that the enzymes we have discovered may be the mechanical link between the bacterium porphyromonas gingivalis, periodontal infection and then the early onset of rheumatoid arthritis, but this groundbreaking finding will need to be verified with further research.” doctor from Louisville, with caution. He nevertheless suggests taking particular care of your teeth to avoid inflammation of the gums and the appearance of the dreaded bacterium porphyromonas gingivalis!
