Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Periodontal disease is a common infectious disease in women of reproductive age. The disease is often not diagnosed and in studies of over 10 000 women has been associated with preterm birth, small for gestational age newborns, and preeclampsia. It has been shown in a smaller number of women that treatment of periodontal disease may reduce the rate of preterm birth. The pregnancy complications of periodontal disease may be due to lipopolysaccharide from the periodontal pockets inciting prostaglandin pathways controlling parturition. Three large randomized controlled trials of treatment of periodontal disease are underway and may provide confirmation of the importance of periodontal disease in causing complications of pregnancy.
Shub
Alexis
A
School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia. ashub@obsgyn.uwa.edu.au
Swain
Jonathan R
JR
Newnham
John P
JP
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011453:Prostaglandins