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Background/Purpose: Previous studies have shown a higher incidence of alveolar bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and that patients with periodontitis are at a greater risk for developing RA. Periodontitis, displayed as marginal jawbone loss was analysed in individuals prior to symptom onset of RA and related to plasma levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANKL), a cytokine crucial for bone resorption. Methods: A case-control study performed within the Medical Biobank of Northern Sweden included 232 pre-symptomatic individuals with blood samples donated before symptom onset and 194 controls. A questionnaire on self-assed dental status and smoking status was retrieved. Dental radiographs to evaluate marginal jawbone levels were available from 93 pre-symptomatic individuals (mean age; 56.8 95%CI55.9, 57.7 years and pre-dating time; -5.3 95%CI -12.2, -0.2, 74.2% females) and 83 controls (mean age; 55.5 95%CI54.6, 56.5, 73.5% females) . Of these individuals 45 had radiograph documentations prior to development of RA symptoms and to whom sex, age and smoking status could be matched among the controls. Plasma were analysed for RANKL (BioVendor, Karasek, Czech Republic), and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) (anti-CCP2 test, Eurodiagnostics, Sweden) from similar time points. Results: Compared to matched controls, total bone loss was significantly higher in never-smokers who developed RA but not in smokers and increasing levels on total jawbone loss was associated with a significantly higher odds to be diagnosed with RA later (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01, 1.11). Regardless of smoking status, the number of unaffected teeth did not differ significantly between those who were subsequently diagnosed with RA and their matched controls. In the pre-symptomatic individuals RANKL positive individuals had significantly higher extent of marginal jawbone loss, which was further increased in ACPA positive individuals. Previously documented association between smoking and ageing and marginal jawbone loss was verified. Conclusion: Marginal jawbone loss preceded onset of symptoms of RA but the difference was only manifested in non-smokers. Moreover, marginal jawbone loss and plasma RANKL levels were related in the pre-symptomatic individuals particularly in ACPA positive individuals.