Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Periodontitis: a significant risk factor for preterm low birth weight (PTLBW) babies

Bey A, Gupta ND, Khan S,*Ashfaq N, Hadi SA

Low birth weight (LBW) infants are those that weigh less than 2500g at the time of birth. They are 40 times more likely to die than normal weight infants are. The primary cause of LBW babies is preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. Factors such as smoking, alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy, inadequate prenantal care, race, low socio-economic status, hypertension, high or low maternal age, diabetes and chronic maternal infection, increase the risk of LBW babies. Periodontitis is a remote gram-negative infection that may play a role in LBW. Periodontopathic microorganisms and their products have wide range of effects mediated through host cytokine production in target cells. Many combined animal studies and data supporting plausible biological mechanisms suggest that periodontal infection has a negative impact on pregnancy outcome in some women.