TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: Interestingly, one prospective study in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis patients exposed to Etanercept, an anti-TNF-α drug, showed a 1.21-fold reduction in TNF-α in crevicular fluid after 6 weeks, with no periodontal intervention in the meantime, and a significant improvement in gingival index and BOP [35].