title: Correlation between infant birth weight and mother's periodontal status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have suggested that periodontal disease is a risk factor for low birth weight (LBW) with other multiple factors. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to help further evaluate the proposed association between periodontal disease and infant birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caucasian pregnant women (n=152), aged 14-39 years, were enrolled while receiving prenatal care. Dental plaque, probing depth, bleeding on probing and clinical attachment level were recorded and three groups were made: healthy group (HG) (n=38), gingivitis group (GG) (n=71) and periodontitis group (PG) (n=43). At delivery, birth weight was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infant mean weight at delivery was 3293.9+/-508.1 g. The total incidence of preterm birth and LBW infants was 5.3% and 4.6%, respectively. The incidence of LBW infants was 3.5% in term gestations and 25% in preterm gestations. Mothers height correlated with infant birth weight (p=0.03). Significant difference in birth weight existed between mothers with <1.55 m (3229.23+/-462.57) and those with > or =1.65 m (3475.55+/-505.07). In the group of women >25 years old infant mean weight in HG was 3588.33+/-531.83, being lower in GG (3466.75+/-334.45) and even lower (3092.60+/-592.94) in PG (p=0.0198). Bleeding on probing was significantly greater in women with <2500 g infants (40.2+/-21.8%) compared with 2500-3499 g (18.6+/-15.1%) and > or =3500 g (17.1+/-16.1%) (p=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontal disease in normal Caucasian pregnant women, older than 25 years, is statistically associated with a reduction in the infant birth weight. These data provide new evidence on the relationship between periodontal disease and birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, University of Itajai, Itajai, Brazil.
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Segura-Egea
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Sahuquillo
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bullón
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications