Skin surface temperature over the temporomandibular and metacarpophalangeal joints in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Temperature measurements were made on the skin surface over the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint in 71 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 52 individuals without general joint disease or symptoms. The recordings were performed with thermistors in contact with the skin. Symptoms in the stomatognathic system and general joint symptoms were investigated by a questionnaire. A clinical examination was performed of the stomatognathic system. In addition, a medical examination including clinical articular indices and laboratory tests was made. The skin surface temperature over the TMJ was generally lower for the individuals with RA than for the individuals without joint disease, whereas the opposite was found for the MCP joint. The most important determinants of skin surface temperature over the TMJ in RA were duration of TMJ symptoms, room temperature, tenderness to palpation of the masseter muscle, and rheumatoid factor. The results of this study indicate that there is a correlation between both symptoms and signs of disorder in the stomatognathic system and temperature of the skin surface overlying the TMJ and MCP joint in individuals with RA. □ Clinical study; joint disease