Aim: This study evaluated the connection of periodontal status with the leukocyte profiles of maternal peripheral blood (MPB) and umbilical cord blood (UCB).
Materials and methods: Ninety-nine pregnant females were recruited, and their data were collected via questionnaire and from medical records, including demographics, systemic conditions, complete blood count (CBC) and C-reaction protein (CRP) level in MPB. Full-mouth periodontal assessment was performed. CBC and CRP levels in UCB were measured after parturition.
Results: All subjects and their neonates were generally healthy. 30.3% of the participants presented with periodontal health condition, whereas 69.7% had different severities of periodontal diseases. The counts/percentages of eosinophils and monocytes in UCB from the subjects with periodontal diseases elevated, and the percentage of neutrophils decreased referencing to that from the counterparts (p < 0.05). There were positive correlations for total leukocyte count, neutrophils and lymphocytes counts/percentages in MPB and UCB among the periodontally healthy subjects (r > 0.4, p < 0.05), but such findings did not exist in those with periodontal diseases. Moreover, periodontal diseases independently accounted for the counts/percentages of neutrophils and eosinophils in UCB after controlling confounders in four testing models (ANCOVA, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Maternal periodontal diseases could to some extent disturb the leukocyte profiles of umbilical cord blood.
Keywords: complete blood count; leukocyte profiles; maternal periodontal diseases; maternal peripheral blood; neonates; umbilical cord blood.
© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.