Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients have a high prevalence of periodontitis. DM-associated periodontitis (DM-P) is characterized by severe inflammation and tissue destruction. To diagnose DM-P is important for cures of periodontitis and DM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of glycated albumin (GA), a DM marker, and calprotectin, an inflammatory marker, in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with periodontitis and DM.
Methods: Seventy-eight subjects participated in this study were the patients with DM, chronic periodontitis (CP), DM-P and healthy individuals (H). GCF and blood were collected from four groups. GA and calprotectin in GCF were analyzed using western blotting and ELISA, and their levels were compared among H, DM, CP, and DM-P groups. GA and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in blood were determined, and the correlation between GCF GA level and blood HbA1c or GA level was investigated. ROC analysis for GCF GA level to predict DM was performed.
Results: GA was identified in GCF, and its amount and concentration in GCF samples from DM and DM-P were significantly higher than those of non-DM groups (H and CP). Calprotectin amount in GCF from CP and DM-P was significantly higher than that in H and DM groups. GCF GA level was positively correlated to blood HbA1c and GA level. ROC analysis of GCF GA level showed an optimal cut-off value to predict DM.
Conclusions: GA showed a high level in GCF from DM patients. GA and calprotectin in GCF may be useful markers to diagnose DM-associated periodontitis
