| Summary: | Objective To scrutinize the assumed association between chronic periodontal disease and preterm low birth weight (PTLB) infants. Design Prospective study. Setting Tanta University Hospital. Patients The study incorporated 200 pregnant women in the first stage of labor of a single baby with intact membranes. A hundred women had definite preterm labor and delivered, later live infants whose birth weight were < 2500 g and 100 women with full term labor and delivered, later live infants weighting ≥2500 g. Intervention All patients included in the study were subjected to history taking, general, obstetrical examination and periodontal evaluation. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were measured in gingival cervicular fluid, maternal serum and amniotic fluid using ELISA technique. Results A significant association between chronic periodontal disease and preterm low birth weight infants. Conclusion Screening of pregnant women chronic periodontal disease seems to be a helpful prediction and consequently prevention of preterm labour.
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