Clinical and laboratory assessment of the state of periapical tissues in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate changes in clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with SLE depending on the severity and activity of the disease. Materials and Methods: The study included 50 patients with SLE of different age groups, 10 men and 40 women. Results: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease that belongs to the group of rheumatic diseases and is characterised by autoimmune tissue damage. Chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases remain one of the most common dental pathologies. Chronic gingivitis and periodontitis in SLE are described as one of the earliest and most striking symptoms of the disease. Approximately the same trend was found in patients with SLE depending on the degree of clinical and laboratory activity of the disease. Patients with minimal, 1 degree of activity (characterized by the longest duration of SLE) showed the greatest decrease in bone mineral density (up to 2.25 points), and patients with higher activity had a significantly shorter duration of SLE and, accordingly, a smaller decrease in bone mineral density: in patients with 2 degrees of activity (1.79 points), with 3 degrees of activity (1.94 points). Conclusions: In patients with acute SLE, the maximum value of the Muhlemann-Cowell index was 2.31 points, in patients with subacute SLE – 1.89 points, and in patients with chronic SLE – 1.58 points. CPITN values increase inversely with the nature of the course of SLE, which is associated with the duration of the underlying disease.