Vertical asymmetry of the mandibular ramus and condylar heights measured with a new method from dental panoramic radiographs in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Abstract

Vertical asymmetry of the mandibular ramus and condylar heights was measured with a new method from dental panoramic radiographs. The study groups consisted of 45 psoriatic arthritis (PA) and 45 control (CO) matched pairs. Vertical asymmetry was calculated with the formula (R - L)/(R + L) x 100. Females showed no statistical significant difference in vertical asymmetry between the PA and CO pairs. In males however, vertical asymmetry showed a statistically significant difference between the PA and CO groups among those aged 35-55 years (P = 0.008). This group included four men with arthritis mutilans, a severe form of psoriatic arthritis.