Background:Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic inflammatory disease usually involves peripheral joints with a symmetric distribution. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is seldom joint to be affected first in the disease course.Objectives:The Aim of our study is to describe and to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ)disorders in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:A cross sectional study including RA patients, which consulted or were hospitalized in Rheumatology department in Taher Sfar Hospital of Mahdia Tunisia, during a period of 10 months. The diagnosis of the RA was secured by the ACR/EULAR 2010, Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria. The clinical TMJ examination was performed by a trained dentist in the same hospital. We assessed TMJ pain with VAS (visual analog scale) which varies from 0 to 10. The following key parameters were evaluated: The pain on the TMJs by bilateral palpation; The TMJ sounds (clicking or crepitus) during opening closing of the mandible; dysfunction and movement alterations. Clinical and sociodemographic parameters were also determined.Results:Our study included 51 patients with an average age of 51.11 years ±12.4 [21-74years]. 50patients (92.6%of cases) were women and 8 patients (14.8%) were diabetic. Only one patient was a smoker. The mean duration of RA was 10.7 years 7.7± [10months-35years]. Rheumatoid factor (RF) was positive in 25 Patients (46.3%of cases). Anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) was positive in 32 patients (59.3 %).41patients (75.4%) had radiological impairments and 28 (51.9%) had specific deformations of RA. The average disease activity score (DAS28-VS) and (DAS28-CRP) were respectively 4.1±1.5 [1.4-7.3] and 3.4±1.5 [1.24-6.71]. TMJ pain was present in 29 patients (56.9 %) which67.7% appeared before ten years. 5 patients (16.7%) had VAS more than 7 that mean a severe pain. TMJ involvement was bilateral in 64.3% and unilateral in 35.7 %. Functional difficulties were detected in 22 patients (44.9 %). TMJ examination had also revealed a limitation of mouth opening in 11 patients (21.2 %), a movement alteration in 13 patients (27.79 %), a clicking in joint mobility in 13 patients (81.3 %) and joint crepitus in 1 patient (6.3%). Disease duration was associated with TMJ pain(p=0.05) and mobility alterations (p=0.04). Functional difficulties of the TMJ were correlated with DAS28 (p=0.02). In our study we found also that duration of corticosteroid therapy had in impact on TMJ pain (p=0.01), functional difficulties (p=0.01) and movements alterations (p=0.004).Conclusion:TMJ is very rare to be affected in the early phase of the disease, thus patient may develop signs and symptoms in the course of time. Our study showed the frequency of TMJ disorders and the most important factors were the activity of RA and the duration of the disease course.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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