Periodontal inflammation plays a possible role in the development of preeclampsia, a potentially deadly condition that affects approximately 5% of United States pregnancies, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology.
“The chronic inflammation of periodontal infection, together with evidence linking periodontitis with atherosclerosis, indicates a possible association between periodontal disease and preeclampsia,” said Dr. Orit Oettinger-Barak, Periodontal Unit, Maxillofacial Surgery Center-The Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. Atherosclerosis is a multistage process set in motion when cells lining the arteries are damaged as a result of high blood pressure, smoking, toxic substances, and other agents. “We found that periodontal disease was more severe in the preeclamptic patients, which suggests an interaction between periodontal disease and pregnancy.”
Researchers performed periodontal examinations in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia. The periodontal examination was performed up to 48 hours prior to delivery by collecting gingival crevicular fluid, which is a fluid that contains enzymes and pieces of tissue that have been examined as potential markers for the progression of periodontitis. This was followed with a full-mouth periodontal examination.
Researchers found that protein levels (cytokines) in the preeclamptic group were nearly 3 times greater than the healthy group. This is the first time that cytokines related to periodontal disease have been implicated. Additional studies will be required to support the findings, including a treatment study designed to eliminate periodontal disease as a preventive measure to reduce the incidence of preeclampsia.
(Source: American Academy of Periodontology, March 2, 2005)
