PREVALENCE OF PERIODONTAL PATHOGENS WITH VARYING METABOLIC CONTROL OFDIABETES-MELLITUS

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of 5 periodo ntal pathogens in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Subjects (n = 10 7) 20-70 years of age with type 1 (n = 60) or 2 (n = 47) diabetes mell itus were studied for the occurrence of the periodontal pathogens A. a ctinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, E. corrodens, P. gingivalis and P intermedia. Subgingival plaque was sampled in each subject from a sing le site exhibiting the greatest inflammation. The evaluation of select ed periodontal bacterial pathogens was based on an immunoassay utilizi ng bacterial specific monoclonal antibodies. 35% of the sites harbored 19 gingivalis, 28% F. nucleatum and 21% E. corrodens. A. actinomycete mcomitans and P. intermedia were found in less than 10% of the sites. Subjects for whom the probing depth at the sampled site was greater th an or equal to 4 mm were more often found to have detectable pathogens than those with a probing depth less than or equal to 3 mm. Diabetic factors such as duration, type and metabolic control of the disease ha d no statistically significant effect on the prevalence of these bacte ria.