Fusobacterium nucleatum and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a prospective cohort study

Method: This study was designed as a hospital-based prospective cohort study. Pregnant women were recruited at about 21 to 24 weeks gestation from March 2009 to June 2013 at the obstetrics clinic of general hospital located in Seoul, Korea. The information of demographic, behaviors and health conditions that may influence adverse pregnancy outcomes was collected. Subgingival biofilm and gingival crevicular fluid were collected using two sterilized paper point (#20) for real-time polymerase chain reaction as quantitative analysis of F. nucleatum. Periodontal pathogen parameter was dichotomized as cut-off of 75 percentile for the amount of F. nucleatum. Pregnancy outcome was collected by five obstetricians from hospital records after delivery. PTB and LBW are defined as delivery at less than 37 weeks and 2,500g, respectively.

Result: We studied a total of 283 subjects, comprised of 93 subjects with high level of F. nucleatum and 190 subjects with low level of F. nucleatum. The incidence of PTB and LBW were 4.6% (n=13) and 9.5% (n=27), respectively. After adjusting for age, BMI, obstetric history and health behaviors, adjusted odds ratios of high level of F. nucleatum for PTB and LBW were 4.22 (confidence intervals [CI] 1.19-15.00) and 2.95 (CI: 1.19-7.29) compare to low level, respectively. 

Conclusion: F. nucleatum was associated with an increased rate of PTB and LBW.