ABSTRACT
Recent studies have suggested that periodontal disease is a risk factor for preterm labor [PL]. Our objective was to determine if maternal periodontitis could be a risk factor for PL through assessing and correlating the levels of IL-6 and TNF alpha in both serum and gingival crevicular fluid [GCF] from pregnant women in between [20-31] weeks of gestation with and without periodontitis and also to determine if periodontal treatment may have an effect on the level of IL-6 and TNF in GCF and serum to reduce the risk of PL.200 pregnant women with periodontal disease aged 25-35 were enrolled while receiving prenatal care in Antenatal Clinic of Maternal and Child Care of Tanta Hospitals. Women were assigned to control group [n= 40] which are free from any periodontal disease. Study grqup [n= 160] with attachment >6mm, this group included group A [treated group] [n=80] which received periodontal treatment [phase I therapy]. Group B [untreated group] [n=80] which did not receive any periodontal treatment. The level of IL-6 and TNF alpha in both local [GCF] and systemic [serum] was determined by ELISA. Of the 200 women enrolled, 134 were excluded from the analysis for different reasons. The incidence of PL in the treated group was 30% [6/15] but in the untreated group was 80% [18/23], and in the control group was 0%. Multivariate analysis showed that the effect of time changes was strong for plaque index [PI] by IL-6 and lastly GI [1, 0.759, and 0.604] respectively. Periodontal disease appears to be an independent risk factor for PL. Periodontal therapy significantly reduces the level of IL-6, TNF alpha in both GCF and serum which in turn reduce the rate of PL in this population of women with periodontal disease