Dental Pathogens in Women With and Without Pregnancy Complications

Objective: Periodontal disease may be a risk factor for pregnancy complications. Postulated mechanisms include translocation of periodontal pathogens to the fetoplacental unit and action of a periodontal reservoir of lipopolysaccharides or inflammatory mediators (McGaw J Can Dent Assoc 2002; 68:165, Madianos et al. J Clin Periodontol 2002; 29 Suppl 3:22). We therefore studied pregnant women in the Helsinki University Central Hospital: 87 with complications (altogether 77 low birth weight babies [<2,500g], pre-term delivery [<35th gestational week]; 18 pre-eclampsia cases, one gestational diabetes) and 110 controls with normal delivery. Methods: Saliva and microbiological samples were taken within 48 hours of delivery and analysed for dental pathogens using culture and PCR (Wahlfors et al. J Dent Res 1995: 74:1796). We hypothesized that women with pregnancy complications might present more frequently dental pathogens than controls. Results: The results showed no difference between the groups. In 44% of cases, 52% of controls salivary buffering was low. High yeast count (>105 cfu/ml) was found in 9% of cases, 13% of controls, high lactobacilli count (>105 cfu/ml) in 38% of cases, 31% of controls, and high mutans streptococci count (>106 cfu/ml) in 5% of cases, 6% of controls. Although cases were more often positive for periodontopathogens than controls the differences were not significant: 11 cases, 9 controls were positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans, one case and control for P. gingivalis, 5 cases and controls for P. intermedia. 41%, of cases, 36% of controls were positive for P. nigrescens; 17% of cases, 13% of controls for B. forsythus, and 17% of cases, 12% of controls for T. denticola. Conclusion: Thus, the study hypothesis was not confirmed. Grant TYH 2119 by Helsinki University Central Hospital.