James D. Beck

TL;DR: It is suggested that periodontal disease, once established, provides a biological burden of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) and inflammatory cytokines (especially TxA2, IL-1β, PGE2, and TNF-α) which serve to initiate and exacerbate atherogenesis' and thromboembolic events.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that periodontal disease is a statistically significant risk factor for PLBW with adjusted odds ratios of 7.9 and 7.5 for all PLBW cases and primiparous PL BW cases, respectively.

TL;DR: A high prevalence of periodontitis in US adults aged ≥30 years is confirmed, with almost fifty-percent affected, and the prevalence was greater in non-Hispanic Asians than non- Hispanic whites, although lower than other minorities.

TL;DR: New experiments from 48 case-control subjects have measured gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of PGE(2) and IL-1-beta to determine whether mediator levels were related to current pregnancy outcome, and microbes associated with mature plaque and progressing periodontitis were detected at higher levels in PLBW mothers, as compared to NBW controls.

TL;DR: Evidence is provided that maternal periodontal disease and incident progression are significant contributors to obstetric risk for preterm delivery, low birth weight and low weight for gestational age and underscore the need for further consideration of periodontals disease as a potentially new and modifiable risk forPreterm birth and growth restriction.