Oral evaluation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Grant number: 10/51517-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2010 - September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Jamil Natour
• Grantee: Jamil Natour
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a systemic disease, it is in osteo-articular system it develops more exuberantly and can progress to permanent destruction of joints, causing numerous reducible deformities or structured features of the disease. The involvement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by RA is associated with age, duration of illness, number of swollen joints, presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The aim of this study is to quantify the bite force (FM) of RA patients treated at UNIFESP, compare FM in RA patients and asymptomatic controls, FM correlate in patients who have RA with functional parameters, and clinical disease activity. It is a cross-sectional study with two groups of individuals, the RA will consist of 75 patients treated at UNIFESP, and the control group of 75 adults with no acute or chronic disease and without complaints in the TMJ region, matched by gender and age with the patients in the RA group. The evaluation will be conducted at a single time. Will be held dental history, examination of the masticatory system, the evaluation of bite force conducted in the area of the molars (bilaterally) and the incisors with the aid of a gnathodynamometer); assessment of hand muscle strength by grip strength, (Jamar dynamometer), and force clamp (Pinch gauge dynamometer). Will be filled in the questionnaires: DASH, HAQ, OHIP14 and will be done to calculate the DAS 28. (AU)