Interleukin-1beta, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and interleukin-1 soluble receptor II in temporomandibular joint synovial fluid from patients with chronic polyarthritides.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), or soluble IL-1 receptor II (sIL-1RII) in synovial fluid or plasma is associated with joint pain or signs of tissue destruction in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement of polyarthritides.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with TMJ involvement of polyarthritides were included. TMJ resting pain, tenderness to palpation, pressure pain threshold, pain on mandibular movement, and anterior open bite were assessed. TMJ synovial fluid samples and plasma were obtained for analysis of IL-1beta, IL-1ra, and sIL-1RII.

RESULTS: IL-1beta was detected in 18% of the synovial fluid samples and in 44% of the plasma samples. The concentrations of IL-1ra in plasma were lower than in the synovial fluid, whereas the opposite condition was found for sIL-1-RII. IL-1ra in synovial fluid and plasma was associated with low intensity of TMJ pain. sIL-1RII in synovial fluid was associated with low degree of anterior open bite, whereas sIL-1RII in plasma was associated with widespread musculoskeletal pain, TMJ pain and tenderness, and decreased pressure pain threshold over the TMJ.

CONCLUSION: IL-1ra and sIL-1RII are present in different proportions in TMJ synovial fluid and blood plasma from patients with TMJ involvement of polyarthritis. Both of these molecules seem to influence the clinical features of these forms of TMJ inflammation.