Pregnant women with periodontitis have on average 65% higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in their blood than those who are healthy, according to a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology.1 The findings may help explain the association between periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

High CRP levels are a marker of systemic inflammation and have also been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including pre-eclampsia and premature delivery. Previous research into the relationship between CRP and periodontitis has found that CRP levels often decrease after standard periodontal therapy. The new results show that elevated CRP may indeed by caused by periodontal inflammation and infection, according to author Dr Waranuch Pitiphat, from Khon Kaen University in Thailand. 'If this is the case, CRP could amplify the inflammatory response and ultimately cause adverse pregnancy outcomes.' she said.

This is the first study that has looked at periodontitis and CRP levels in pregnant women, as evidence for an association between the two has so far come from research looking at adults who were not pregnant. 'This is one more study that really drives home the importance of taking care of the entire body including oral health,' said Kenneth A. Krebs, President of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Dr Pitiphat stressed that the links between periodontitis and adverse outcomes in pregnancy required more investigation. 'Alternatively, periodontal disease and CRP may share a common risk factor for predisposing individuals to a hyperinflammatory response,' she continued. 'More research is clearly needed to further our understanding about the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.'