Recent studies have shown periodontal diseases (gum diseases) as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as prematurity and low birth weight. Objectives of the present study were to determine the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on pregnancy outcomes in women with periodontitis and to detect IgM and IgG status in cord blood during delivery. A total of 20 pregnant women in their 2nd trimester and associated with chronic generalised periodontitis were selected and recruited for the study. They were grouped into two: Group 1 (treatment group) and Group 2 (control). Periodontal parameters of all the subjects were recorded at baseline and after delivery. Data related to weight of the infant and type of delivery was recorded. During the delivery, cord blood was collected for the estimation of IgM and IgG antibodies. All the recordings were subjected for statistical analysis. The study concluded that maternal periodontitis was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Previous studies assessed the involvement and impact of periodontal bacteria in preeclamptic women with chronic periodontitis. To explore further, the current study aimed to associate periodontal viruses and bacteria with mir155 levels in placental tissues of preeclamptic women with generalized chronic periodontitis. Four-hundred 45 pregnant women, 18–35 years of age, were selected and divided into four groups (controls, A, B, and C) where the Controls included 145 systemically and periodontally healthy pregnant women Group A-100 systemically healthy pregnant women with chronic periodontitis, Group B- 100 preeclamptic women with chronic periodontitis, Group C- 100 preeclamptic women without chronic periodontitis. Age, BMI, SES, and periodontal parameters such as PI, BOP, PPD, and CAL were noted. Periodontal pathogens such as Tf, Td, Pg, Pi, Fn, HSV, EBV, and HCMV were tested in subgingival plaque, placental tissues, and mir155. We observed that PI, BOP, PPD, CAL, Tf, and EBV were highly significant in Group B. We found a higher number of periodontal bacteria, viruses, and mir 155 in Group B showing a higher risk of preeclampsia. More genetic studies in this field are advised to ascertain the role of periodontopathogens and mir 155 in preeclampsia and periodontal inflammation. What is already known on this subject? Periodontal diseases pose an increased risk of developing preeclampsia and delivering preterm and/or low-birth-weight babies. What do the results of this study add? Periodontal variables such as PI, pocket depth, BOP, and clinical attachment levels, were found to be increased in the preeclamptic women with chronic periodontitis. The significant difference was seen in the relative fold expression of mir155 with higher gene expression of mir155 in groups B and A as compared to group C and controls. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In our study, mir155 correlation with the periodontal parameters and periodontal pathogens further strengthen the evidence of periodontal inflammation as a risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women especially when associated with chronic periodontitis. mir155 can be considered to be one of the genetic biomarkers and can be used as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of PE.

A BSTRACT Aim: Previous studies showed associated periodontal disease with various systemic ailments. This research work was aimed at studying the presence and role of periodontal microflora on preeclampsia during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed on pregnant women with preeclampsia with and without chronic periodontitis, attending Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, for prenatal checkups. After obtaining consents, 445 women were recruited in the study. On the basis of systemic and periodontal health, subjects were grouped into Group 1 (women with preeclampsia with chronic periodontitis) and Group 2 (women with preeclampsia without chronic periodontitis). Clinical parameters such as plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded. Quantification of periodontopathic bacteria ( Porphyromonas gingivalis , Fusobacterium nucleatum , Prevotella intermedia , Tannerella forsythia , Treponema denticola ), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV), were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction in subgingival samples at one point of time and later compared in placental tissue after parturition. Results: T. forsythia , T. denticola , F. nucleatum , P. intermedia , EBV, CMV, and HSV were expressed more in Group 3 compared to those in Groups 2, 4, and 1, in their subgingival and placental samples. Conclusion: Elevated levels of bacteria and viruses were expressed in subgingival and placental samples in women with preeclampsia with chronic periodontitis compared to those in women with preeclampsia without chronic periodontitis. This shows that chronic periodontitis is a risk factor for preeclampsia. The results concluded that periodontal flora is not only localized to periodontal tissues but can also enter uterine cavity and may elicit their pathological response on mother and developing fetus.

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