Periodontal Disease And Preterm Low Birth Weight Children Study

Background:Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory process mostly caused by infection by Gram-negative bacterium harboring next to the tooth surfaces.The lipopolysaccharide of such bacterium induces the production of cytokines by inflammatory cells.Periodontal infection which serve as reservoirs for Gram-negative anaerobic organisms, lipopolysaccharide(LPS,endotoxin),and inflammatory mediators including IL-6 and TNF-a, may pose a potential threat to the fetal-placental unit.It has been reported that a significantly higher incidence of preterm light birth weight in gravid women with periodontal disease then without was reported.Periodontal and serologic examinations of gravida may,therefore, provide detailed information for understanding the pathomechanisms of PLBW. However,no studies have been carried out to date in this specific group of pregnant women.Purposes:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations of periodontal conditions and preterm low birth weight infants in relation to serum cytokine levels and the composition of subgingival plaque.Methods:The case group was composed of 68 pregnant women hospitalized with the delivery preterm low birth weight infants.During the same period of time,the control group was composed of 75 normal pregnant women.Periodontal examinations included assessments of plaque and gingivitis,clinical attachment loss(CAL),probing depth(PD),bleeding index(BI) and plaque index(PLI).Before the oral examination,a peripheral blood sample was obtained from each subject with venipuncture using a vacuum tube.The serum concentration of IL-6, TNF-αwas determined using commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays(ELISA).Results:There were no significant differences in the mean ages at examination between the PLBW and normal control groups.The mean percentage of CAL＞3mm,PD＞4mm,PI,serum IL-6 and TNF-αlevels were significantly higher in the PLBW group than those of the normal group.Significant positive correlations between CAL≥3mm(%)and serum TNF-αor IL-6 levels were observed.Conclusion:1.Worse periodontal conditions were found in PLBW than in normal control, indicatingthat periodontal inflammation wasinvolved in the pathogenesis of PLB.2.The serum IL-6 and TNF-αlevels were elevated among women with PLBW,indicating that elevation of serum CKs was important pathology of PLBW.3.Serum CKs levels were correlated with the severity of periodontal inflammation,indicating that CKs are the potential medicators.