Diabetes mellitus-associated periodontitis: differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aspriello SD, Zizzi A, Tirabassi G, Buldreghini E, Biscotti T, Faloia E, Stramazzotti D, Boscaro M, Piemontese M. Diabetes mellitus‐associated periodontitis: differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Periodont Res 2011; 46: 164–169. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Although many studies have appeared about diabetes mellitus‐associated periodontitis, few have compared periodontitis inflammatory markers between type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and information regarding this issue is scarce and contradictory. We evaluated the levels of plasma C‐reactive protein and of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in gingival crevicular fluid in two groups of subjects affected by T1DM and T2DM, in order to identify possible differences between the two classes in the inflammatory mechanisms of diabetes mellitus‐associated periodontitis. Material and Methods: Plasma C‐reactive protein and gingival crevicular fluidIL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α were measured in periodontitis patients affected by type 1 (P‐T1DM, n = 24) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (P‐T2DM, n = 24). Results: Gingival crevicular fluid levels of IL‐1β and TNF‐α in P‐T1DM subjects were significantly higher than in P‐T2DM subjects. In P‐T1DM subjects, we found significant negative correlations between the duration of diabetes mellitus and IL‐1β and between the duration of diabetes mellitus and TNF‐α. Conclusion: This study shows that IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels in periodontitis patients with T1DM are affected by the duration of diabetes mellitus.