Periodontitis as a Risk Factor for Developing Preeclampsia During Pregnancy and Reactive C Protein

Objectives: To know if periodontitis is a risk factor for developing preeclampsia during pregnancy and to determine if C reactive protein plays a role as an inflamatory mediator in this condition
Methods: A case control study was performed with to groups of patients. One group was pregnant patients with preeclamsia (cases n=20), the other pregnant without preeclampsia (control n=30), periodontitis and C reactive protein was assessed in both groups.
Results: Of the total of the patients 80 % had chronic periodontitis while 20 % had pregnacy gingivitis. 15 patients of the preeclampsia group had chronic periodontitis, while 25 patients of the control group had chronic periodontitis (OR 0,6; IC 95 % 0,148-2,421). Levels of C reactive protein show no difference between groups.
Conclusions: No relation between chronic periodontitis and the risk of developing preeclampsia was found. Significance of high levels of C reactive protein was not assessed in preeclamptic patients.(AU)