Correlation Between Periodontal Health Status with Some Salivary Inflammatory Biomarkers in Pregnant and Lactating Women

Background and Objectives: Periodontal health may be influenced by the hormonal and immunological shifts that occur during pregnancy and lactation. This study aimed to assess and compare the periodontal status and salivary concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha) among pregnant, post-partum lactating, and non-pregnant/non-lactating (control) women. Methods: A case-control study was performed on 90 systemically healthy women, with an average age ranging from 25-35 years, equally divided into pregnant, postpartum lactating, and control groups. Clinical periodontal parameters, including bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and plaque index (PI), were examined, and salivary levels of MMP-8 and TNF-α were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean level of GI, BOP, PPD, MMP-8, and TNF- alpha were significantly elevated in pregnant women, followed by lactating and control groups, with significant differences between each two groups and among the three groups (P < 0.001), except for non-significant differences between lactating and control groups regarding MMP-8 (P =1.000). All the correlations between clinical and inflammatory biomarkers were weak and non-significant (rho < 0.4), whereas a significant negative correlation was found between GI and MMP-8 in the pregnant group (rho = -0.544, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Pregnancy is associated with increased gingival inflammation and biochemical inflammatory markers, indicating a heightened risk for periodontal disease. Lactating women displayed intermediate changes, emphasizing the need for periodontal monitoring and preventive care throughout the peripartum period. Keywords: Pregnancy, Periodontal Diseases, Matrix Metalloproteinase 8, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha