title: Preterm low birth weight and periodontal disease among African Americans.
abstract: African Americans consistently experience higher rates of preterm and low birth weight (LBW) deliveries than do whites. LBW and preterm infants are more likely to die before their first birthday and survivors may suffer from a number of health problems. Therefore, identification of modifiable risk factors for preterm deliveries and LBW has considerable public health significance. Pregnant women's poor periodontal healtlh is emerging as one such factor. Maternal clinical periodontal status and bacteriologic and immunologic profiles related to periodontal disease have been associateted with risk of fetal growth and preterm LBW, and periodontal treatment during pregnancy has reduced the incidence of preterm deliveries. This article reviews the literature on the above association and presents data from a previously published prospective study of predominantly African Americans to show that preterm LBW deliveries are associated with higher midtrimester maternal serum antibody levels against Porphyromonas gingivalis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010, USA. AD75@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Ananda P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dasanayake
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Doryck
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Phoebus N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Madianos
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology