title: Correlation between periodontal disease, inflammatory alterations and pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies have hypothesized that periodontal disease may increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. The correlation between the two diseases would probably be based on hypertension-related cytokine release in the local periodontal environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between periodontal disease and pre-eclampsia, and the correlation of the two conditions with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNFα) mRNA expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control analysis of 116 pregnant women, 58 with pre-eclampsia (cases) and 58 normotensive pregnant women (controls) was performed. In addition to collection of socio-demographic data and periodontal evaluation, peripheral blood samples were collected for laboratory analysis of IL-6 and TNFα mRNA expression by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an association between periodontitis and pre-eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio 3.73; 95% confidence interval 1.32-10.58). Increased TNFα mRNA expression was observed in pre-eclamptic women; however, there was no correlation between periodontitis and systemic cytokine expression. In the case group, systemic cytokine mRNA levels were similar in pregnant women with and without periodontitis (means±SD): 0.73±0.24 vs. 0.82±0.38 for TNFα and 1.31±1.49 vs. 1.09±0.74 for IL-6, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontitis was clinically related to pre-eclampsia; however, the supposed mechanism that correlates the two diseases, i.e. a systemic inflammatory process involving cytokines TNFα and IL-6 in the presence of periodontal disease, could not be confirmed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. gabrielp@mpcnet.com.br
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Politano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passini
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velloso
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Couto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000276:immunology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000276:immunology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012923:Social Class; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha