Some observations suggest abnormalities in cytokine levels and their receptors in pregnancy. It has been shown that IL-1ra and sTNFRI are associated with pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of IL1-ra and sTNFRI in the saliva of pregnant women with periodontitis. The study covered 53 women aged 21-40 years, including 18 pregnant women aged 21-35 years with periodontitis, 14 pregnant women aged 22-40 years with clinically healthy periodontium and 21 non-pregnant women aged 23-38 years with clinically healthy periodontium. Methods: The clinical assessment included an evaluation of probing pocket depth, attachment level, plaque and bleeding on probing. All pregnancy periodontitis patients had at least 8 sites with pocket depth greater than 4 mm and/or more than 10% of sites with loss of attachment greater than 3 mm. Samples of mixed, unstimulated whole saliva were collected two hours after breakfast. The saliva concentrations of IL-1ra and sTNFRI were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay – ELISA kits (Quantikine, R&D Systems Europe Ltd., Abingdon, Oxon). For the statistical method the Mann-Whitney U test was used. Results: The mean concentration of IL-1ra was 29781,39 (SD 14562,09) pg/ml for pregnancy periodontitis and 19978,93 (SD 10780,63) pg/ml for pregnancy with healthy periodontium (p<0,05). The mean concentration of sTNFRI for these patients did not differ significantly. The mean concentration of IL-1ra and sTNFRI for pregnant healthy periodontium and non-pregnant healthy periodontium did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Our observations did not reveal any influence of pregnancy on the salivary levels of IL-1ra and sTNFRI. The results suggest the association between periodontitis and the increasing saliva levels of IL-1ra.

Back to the Periodontal Research - Pathogenesis Program
Back to the IADR/AADR/CADR 80th General Session (March 6-9, 2002)

Top Level Search