Oral Infection as a Risk Factor for Preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a common obstetric syndrome affecting approximately 5-10% of pregnant women leading to significant maternal mortality and morbidity. Preeclampsia accounts for 25% of preterm deliveries resulting in adverse neonatal outcome. It is also the third most common direct cause of maternal death in the United Kingdom [1,2]. Preeclampsia is characterized by new onset hypertension exceeding 140/90 mmHg and proteinuria exceeding 300 mg in a 24 hour urine sample, after 20 weeks of gestation in a previously normotensive woman. It is characterized by abnormal vascular response to placentation, reduced organ perfusion, vasospasm, activation of the coagulation system, inflammatory like response, oxidative stress and some perturbation in volume and blood pressure control, affecting the placenta, kidney liver and brain [3-5].