Periodontal Pathogens in Women with Pregnancy Complications

Objectives: There is increasing evidence that women with periodontal disease have higher risk for pregnancy complications. Periodontal pathogens may have systemic effects through their products and inflammatory mediators causing a potential threat to the unborn baby. We have studied the association between periodontal pathogens and pregnancy complications in a low risk population of caucasian educated women. Methods: Altogether 348 mothers aged 18-44 years (mean age 31.2±5.0 years) who delivered their child at the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland, took part in the study. Of the women, 71.2% were highly educated and only 6.2% did not have professional education. Within 2 days postpartum the mothers were examined clinically with microbiological sampling. The periodontal pathogens Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythensis, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens were analyzed by PCR method. Results: Among the 348 mothers 124 (35.6%) had pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and/or low birth weight baby. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was detected in 15 (12.1%) of the case mothers and in 13 (5.8%) of the control mothers (p<0.05). The incidence of Tannerella forsythenis was 13 (10.5%) in case mothers vs. 29 (12.9%) in control mothers (n.s.), Treponema denticola 14 (11.3%) vs. 23 (10.3%) (n.s.), Porphyromonas gingivalis 1 (0.8%) vs. 4 (1.8%), (n.s.), Prevotella intermedia 7 (5.6%) vs. 11 (4.9%) (n.s.), and Prevotella nigrescens 43 (34.7%) vs. 75 (33.5%), (n.s.). Conclusion: Although no difference was observed in the other periodontal bacteria investigated except Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, our result may partly indicate a possible association between periodontal disease and pregnancy complications.