Parâmetros clínicos periodontais e sintomas subclínicos no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico

Abstract

Scientific studies have already demonstrated an association between autoimmune diseases and periodontal diseases. Periodontal Disease (PD) is a chronic, often insidious, inflammatory condition. The aim of the present study was to explore specific dental complaints through a systematic evaluation in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The cross-sectional study was carried out with 24 consecutive patients with SLE in regular follow-up at the Rheumatology outpatient clinic of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Sociodemographic characteristics, characteristics related to the time of diagnosis and treatment of SLE, disease activity and damage through SLEDAI and SLICC/ACR-DI scores, profile of habits associated with oral health care, and periodontal complaints were evaluated. The data obtained in the present study show that 25% of the patients had complaints of pain related to the periodontium, and 75% of the patients had some degree of periodontal disease, evidencing an insidious process that is often neglected by the patients themselves. In half of these patients, the mean time of diagnosis of SLE was long. The SLEDAI index indicated disease activity and the SLICC/ACR-DI ≥1 revealed the presence of damage caused by the disease. The periodontal pain or discomfort observed showed typical characteristics of inflammatory disease of the periodontium, affecting the patient's physiological activities such as chewing. In addition, patients did not undergo treatment for this complaint, suggesting difficulty in accessing health services or patient negligence. Conclusion: Knowing and understanding these symptoms can help in the screening of these patients in primary care, enabling diagnosis and treatment of periodontopathies that can interfere with systemic disease.