TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: Al Katma et al6 were able to confirm the data of clinical and serological RA improvement in 17 RA patients with periodontitis after periodontal treatment, and Ortiz et al7 observed a significant improvement of DAS28, with reduction of ESR and circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in 20 RA patients with periodontitis after periodontal treatment.