Gingival crevicular fluid prostaglandin E2 level as a predictor of preterm low birth weight: a pilot investigation

Periodontal infections, which serve as a reservoir of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), may pose a threat to the fetal-placental unit and cause preterm delivery. This study was conducted to estimate the levels of PGE(2) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum to explore the possible use of the GCF-PGE(2) level as a risk predictor of preterm low birth weight (PLBW). Twenty-two pregnant female patients were selected for the study. Samples of GCF and serum were collected from each patient, and sampling was repeated at one month after parturition. The level of PGE(2) in GCF and serum was estimated using a commercially available ELISA kit (NeogenTM). The mean serum PGE(2) level was 4.4 ng/ml and 1.64 ng/ml before and after parturition, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The mean GCF-PGE(2) level was 5.8 ng/ml and 5.5 ng/ml before and after parturition, respectively, but the difference was not significant. There was positive correlation between the serumPGE(2) and GCF-PGE(2) levels, and there was a negative correlation between PGE(2) level and gestational age. The present findings suggest that there is a weak correlation between maternal GCF-PGE(2) level and birth outcome. Further clinical trials with a larger sample size are warranted for further investigation of the association between GCF-PGE(2) level and PLBW.