Periodontal infection in adult-onset Still’s disease patient: clinical and haematological considerations

In this case report, the authors described the first case of a patient with adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) who presents advanced periodontal infection. AOSD is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology, characterised by spiking fever, usually exceeding 39°C, an evanescent salmon pink rash, arthritis and multiorgan involvement. Periodontal infection is a pathogen-induced oral inflammatory disease affecting the supporting tissues of teeth and is currently considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Several cytokines capable of inducing systemic effects are produced during the course of this infection and the values of serum markers of inflammation, such as C reactive protein (CRP), may significantly decrease after periodontal treatment. Although AOSD can produce elevations in CRP, similar increase may be produced by periodontal infection, suggesting the need for medical and dental diagnosis when evaluating the sources of acute-phase responses in systemic autoimmune disease patients.