2.2 Definitions:
Preeclampsia was defined as a new-onset persistent blood pressure
(systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90
mmHg) and proteinuria (based on a 24-hour urine collection with a total
protein excretion > 300 mg or a urinary spot measurement of
protein-to-creatinine ratio > 0.3) after 20 weeks of
gestation, according to the clinical guidelines established by the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists90.
Preterm PE was defined as those cases of diagnosed PE that required
delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. The non-PE group was defined as
normotensive pregnant women with a normal pregnancy who did not develop
serious obstetric disease and who delivered a healthy newborn at term.
Periodontitis and its severity were defined according to the
classifications established by the 2017 World
Workshop116,117: (1) interdental clinical attachment
level (CAL) detectable in ≥ 2 non-adjacent teeth or (2) buccal or oral
CAL ≥ 3 mm with pocketing > 3 mm detectable in ≥ 2 teeth.
Gingivitis was defined in subjects who did not exhibit a periodontal
probing depth (PPD) ≥ 3 mm, who were without CAL, and who had positive
bleeding upon probing (BOP) in ≥ 10% of probe sites. Gingival health
was defined as < 10% BOP sites, with a PPD ≤ 3
mm116–118.