Periodontal Infection as a Possible Risk Factor for Preterm Low Birth Weight

Abstract

Periodontal diseases are Gram-negative anaerobic infections that can occur in women of childbearing age (18 to 34 years). In the present investigation we sought to determine whether the prevalence of maternal periodontal infection could be associated with preterm low birth weight (PLBW), controlling for known risk factors and potential covariates. A case-control study of 124 pregnant or postpartum mothers was performed. PLBW cases were defined as a mother with a birth of less than 2,500 g and one or more of the following: gestational age <37 weeks, preterm labor (PTL), or premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Controls were normal birth weight infants (NBW). Assessments included a broad range of known obstetric risk factors, such as tobacco use, drug use, alcohol consumption, level of prenatal care, parity, genitourinary infections, and nutrition. Each subject received a periodontal examination to determine clinical attachment level. PLBW cases and primiparous PLBW cases (n = 93) had significantly worse periodontal disease than the respective NBW controls. Multivariate logistic regression models, controlling for other risk factors and covariates, demonstrated that periodontal disease is a statistically significant risk factor for PLBW with adjusted odds ratios of 7.9 and 7.5 for all PLBW cases and primiparous PLBW cases, respectively. These data indicate that periodontal diseases represent a previously unrecognized and clinically significant risk factor for preterm low birth weight as a consequence of either PTL or preterm PROM. J Periodontol 1996;67:1103-1113.

Doença periodontal materna como fator associado ao baixo peso ao nascer

“…The following parameters available in the literature were added (Offenbacher et al, 1996): 18% prevalence of periodontal disease among mothers whose newborns had low birth weight and 4.7% prevalence among mothers whose newborns had normal birth weight. The "case" group included all the 102 mothers of children born by normal delivery with birth weight of less than 2,500 g. It was not possible to take into account the gestational age, since this information was not registered in the medical records.…”

The Relationship Between Periodontal Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Offenbacher and colleagues 16 found that mothers who have severe periodontal disease had 7.5 fold increase in the risk of having preterm, low birth weight baby. Moreover, it has reported people with poorly controlled diabetes improved metabolic control after periodontal therapy 17 .…”

Can Oral Anaerobic Bacteria cause Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes?/ Дали Оралните Анаеробни Бактерии Можат Да Доведат До Лоши Опстетрички Исходи?

“…For the last 15 years or so, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated in poor pregnancy outcome. Offenbacher and his group in 1996 reported a sevenfold increased risk of a mother with periodontal disease delivering a PTLBW baby [15]. This observation was difficult to ignore and since then many studies have been completed but with varying results [16,17].…”