title: Total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity levels in serum and gingival crevicular fluid in pregnant women with chronic periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence of reduced antioxidant (AO) defense in periodontitis and pregnancy and adverse interactions between periodontitis and pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) total AO capacity (TAOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme concentrations in pregnant patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) were compared to those in non-pregnant patients. Periodontal examinations were performed and GCF/serum samples were obtained from 33 pregnant patients with CP (PCP), 18 pregnant patients with gingivitis (PG), and 21 periodontally healthy pregnant controls (P-controls), monitored in the first and third trimesters; 27 non-pregnant women with CP; and 25 non-pregnant control women. The concentrations of TAOC (automated measurement method) and SOD (spectrophotometric method) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontal parameters were higher in pregnant patients versus non-pregnant patients and in the CP group compared to controls, whereas TAOC and SOD concentrations were lower (P <0.05). All parameters, except plaque index, increased in pregnant subjects in the third trimester compared to the first trimester, whereas TAOC and SOD levels decreased (P <0.05). Periodontal parameters were highest and TAOC and SOD levels were lowest in the PCP group in the third trimester (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic and local GCF AO levels decreased in pregnancy and periodontitis, and AO defense reached the lowest levels in the last phase of pregnancy, whereas periodontal status deteriorated. These results suggest that reduced AO capacity may be associated with adverse periodontitis-pregnancy interactions, and each situation can be a provocative risk factor for the other.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. akalin@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ferda Alev
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Akalin
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baltacioğlu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alver
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karabulut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D010519:Periodontium / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012307:Risk Factors; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase