Is there an association between systemic lupus erythematosus and periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease results from the interaction between pathogenic bacteria that colonizesupragingival and subgingival biofilms and the host, triggering an inflammatory response, with systemic effects leading to immune-mediated destruction of the attachment appara-tus and loss of supporting alveolar bone. Immunological pathways and predisposing geneticfactors common to periodontal disease and rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupuserythematosus, have been described. Case reports have suggested greater severity of peri-odontal disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. However, studies evaluatingthe influence of the treatment of one disease on the clinical and laboratory manifestationsof the other have yielded conflicting results.