Periodontal health and salivary Interleukin -6 among preterm postpartum women

Abstract

Background: Hormonal changes during pregnancy have been suggested to predispose women to gingivitis.Furthermore, advance periodontal infection in pregnant women may pose a threat to the placenta and uterus andmay increase the like hood of preterm delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salivaryinterleukin -6 (IL-6) level and periodontal health among preterm postpartum women.Materials and Methods: Salivary samples were taken from 33 preterm postpartum women (study group) and 33 fullterm postpartum women (control group). The supernatant salivary samples were assayed using atomic absorptionspectrophotometer. Plaque, calculus and gingival indices were used for recording the oral hygiene and gingivitisalso probing pocket depth was recorded.Results: The mean values of plaque index, calculus index probing pocket depth were higher among study groupthan control group with no statistically significant difference, but a highly significant difference was observed in themean value of GI between the two groups. The full term women had a higher mean value of salivary IL-6 than studygroup with no statistically significant difference, weak positive correlation was found between salivary IL-6 andprobing pocket depth in control group. On the other hand, weak negative correlations were noticed betweensalivary IL-6 among study group with Plaque index, Gingival index, Calculus index and probing pocket depth, alsobetween salivary IL-6 with PlI, GI and CalI among control group. However, statistically all correlations were notsignificant.Conclusion: It is concluded that pregnant women during pregnancy required preventive programs directed forimprovement of oral health and especially periodontal disease to prevent any pregnancy outcomes such aspreterm delivery