A possible association of periodontal infectious diseases in pregnant women with isolated orofacial clefts in their children: A population‐based case‐control study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to check the association of maternal periodontal infectious disease (MPID) during pregnancy and the possible risk for birth outcomes, mainly structural birth defects: congenital abnormalities (CAs) in their children. METHODS: The population‐based data set of the Hungarian Case‐Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980–1996, was evaluated. The occurrence of medically recorded MPID in the prenatal maternity logbook was compared in 22,843 cases with different CAs and 38,151 matched controls without defects. RESULTS: Twenty‐one case mothers who had offspring with a CA (case group) and 17 pregnant women who delivered newborn infants without a CA (control group) had an MPID. However, of 21 cases, 6 had isolated cleft lip ± palate (OR with 95% CI: 10.7, 4.2–27.3), and 2 were affected with isolated cleft palate (7.9, 1.8–34.2). Of these 8 cases, 6 had mothers with the exposure of MPID in the critical period of these orofacial clefts, 7 mothers were visited at home, and 6 were smokers during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The unexpected findings of the study showed a strong association of MPID during pregnancy with a higher risk of isolated orofacial clefts in their children. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.