Background:

Recent studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between periodontal disease, and adverse pregnancy outcome including preterm delivery and preeclampsia. Most randomized controlled clinical trials reveal that early periodontal intervention in pregnancy reduced adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, miscarriage, and low weight newborn. There are no studies on the effects of periodontal intervention on preeclampsia.

Objective:

To determine the effects of periodontal intervention on pregnancy outcome in preeclamptic women.

Methods:

Fifty seven patients with mild preeclampsia with blood pressure levels ≥160/110 mmHg from the Hospital Universitario del Valle were included. Preeclamptic women were randomized in two groups, one in which periodontal intervention was performed after inclusion and another - control group (PNIG) in which the periodontal intervention was practiced after child delivery. Maternal socio-demographic, medical and periodontal data were gathered. Periodontal intervention group (PIG) included patients subjected to supragingival and subgingival cleaning with ultrasonic and manual devices in one appointment without clorhexidine. The periodontal parameters, premature delivery rate and the birth-weight rate were evaluated in both groups.

Results:

Average age was 24.7 ± 6.4 years old. Gestational age average at inclusion was of 32.3 ± 1.6 weeks. Most of the recruited patients were nonparous. Chronic periodontitis was a frequent event (72%) Most social, demographic and periodontal conditions were similar between the groups but age (p = 0.03), proteinuria (0.049) and nulliparity (p = 0.02). Periodontal parameters improved among treated group and the percentile of birth-weight adjusted by gestational age showed not differences between groups (median percentile 47 range 5-90 PIG versus percentile 45 range 5-95).

Conclusion:

Periodontitis is common in mild preeclampsia patients. Periodontal intervention improved periodontal clinical parameters but do not reduce premature birth and low birth weight rates.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )