Cristina Iordache, Cristina -Angela Ghiorghe, Codrina Ancuța
ABSTRACT
The main aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders in patients with various rheumatic conditions and to define the accurate assessment protocol. We performed a prospective observational study in 1052 consecutive patients with various inflammatory (433 rheumatoid arthritis, RA; 258 ankylosing spondylitis, AS; 103 psoriatic arthritis, PsA; 32 juvenile idiopathic arthritis, JIA) and degenerative (226 osteoarthritis, OA) rheumatic disorders attending at least once the rheumatology department. Patients were classified in six study groups, as follows: group A comprising 152 RA; group B: 55 AS; group C: 44 PsA; group D: 22 JIA; group E: 42 patients with osteoarthritis (OA); and group F or the control group. All patients were evaluated according to the same standardized protocol including several variables e.g. demographics, epidemiologic, clinical, biological and imaging parameters according to the underlying rheumatic condition. TMJ and dental-periodontal system were also examined. Statistical analysis was done in SAS 4.3 program, p<0.05; differences among groups were calculated using the Probability calculator for descriptive statistics, the χ2 test, the Pearson “r” correlations and Breakdown one way ANOVA tests. In conclusion, TMJ pathology displayed an increased prevalence in all groups, irrespective of the inflammatory or degenerative rheumatic disorders as compared to the control group;
Key words: temporomandibular disorder, rheumatic diseases, ultrasonography